You might’ve read elsewhere that former Knicks/Bulls/Raptors F/fashion plate Charles Oakley was suing Las Vegas’ Aria Hotel over an alleged altercation with resort security last May. On Tuesday, the New York Post’s Christina Silva provided further details from the lawsuit, and the hotel’s counterclaim that Oak, “was the vicious aggressor who provoked the incident.”
Oakley (above) claims he was at the pool with a group of friends and business associates when he briefly left. As he tried to return to the party, he claims Aria’s security guards stopped him, prompting an argument between Oakley and the hotel staff. Oakley said he consequently left the pool and was returning to his room when he was attacked by at least five security guards in a “gang style beat down,” according to the lawsuit.
The complaint contends the officers wrestled Oakley to the ground and punched and handcuffed him, and that he was taken to the hospital with injuries to his neck, back, head and wrist, “all or some of which may be permanent and disabling.”
The complaint alleges negligence, assault, assault with excessive force, battery, false imprisonment and defamation. It seeks unspecified general, special and punitive damages.
But lawyers representing Aria argued in a counterclaim that Oakley became upset after pool employees began to close the pool area at the end of the day, and wouldn’t allow him to invite women to join his party, the counterclaim states. He began pushing the security guards, forcing them to restrain him, according to the counterclaim.
Aria employees also claim Oakley threw a bystander’s $2,500 camera in the pool because he didn’t want the man to take his picture.