The violent confrontation involving former NHL player Paul Bissonnette at a Scottsdale restaurant last month has led to the release of surveillance footage, capturing the altercation that spanned across multiple locations, ending in a nearby CVS parking lot. According to FOX 10 Phoenix, the incident, which transpired on November 24, began around 7:30 p.m. at Houston's restaurant near McDonald Drive and Scottsdale Road, with Bissonnette intervening in defense of an employee who reportedly faced harassment from a group of men.
Bissonnette, known as "Biz Nasty" during his Coyotes tenure, recounted on the "Spittin' Chiclets" podcast, as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix, "I said, ‘Listen guy, if you keep harassing and assaulting the staff, we’re going to go outside and have some problems.’ The minute that left my mouth, the guys starts swinging, and the next thing you know, four guys start swinging at me." The released video from yesterday corroborates his account, showing Bissonnette being attacked within the restaurant which quickly escalated to an outdoor scuffle.
The situation grew more intense as Bissonnette, shown retreating, was pursued and physically assaulted by the group. According to 12News, one of the assailants, Sean Daley, has been indicted "for engaging in violent and disruptive behavior and causing injury to Paul Bissonnette while his capacity to resist was impaired." Additional suspects include Danny Bradley, Henry Mesker, John Carroll, Edward Jennings, and William Carroll, with further charges pending as the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office is referred to the felony charges for Bradley, Mesker, and John Carroll. Despite the altercation, Bissonnette made a prompt return to broadcasting on TNT, providing commentary for an NHL game days after.
Meanwhile, a separate but possibly related assault occurred at Raven Golf Club in Phoenix just hours before the Scottsdale brawl involving Bissonnette. "In that whole interaction, I didn't think that he was actually gonna hit me. So it's very surprising, for sure," Carter, a sophomore at ASU and the victim of the golf club incident told 12News after recognizing one of the alleged Scottsdale attacker's mugshots as his assailant. The Phoenix Police responded to the golf club incident but the suspects were gone by the time officers arrived. Currently, both incidents are being investigated, with police eyeing potential links between the two.
