From Daily Mail: He was filmed brawling with a neighbor outside his home, but TV star Alan Ritchson was in a much calmer mood by Monday afternoon.
Shocking video emerged on Sunday of the 6ft 3in Reacher actor beating his neighbor Ronnie Taylor after being confronted about his loud motorcycle.
Taylor and Ritchson brawled on the grass and hedges over the road from Taylor’s $2.7 million five-bedroom, seven-bathroom home.
Witnesses came to the Hollywood tough guy’s defense, claiming Taylor instigated the fracas in their quiet neighborhood in Brentwood, Tennessee, but Ritchson wasn’t keen to give his side of the story when contacted hours later.
Contacted via phone by the Daily Mail, Ritchson, who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, spoke to the reporter and was exceptionally polite, “unlike many celebrities,” the outlet noted.
“I can’t answer questions about that right now, there’s an active investigation,” he told the Mail.
The Brentwood Police Department confirmed that the matter was in their hands, telling the outlet, “There is an active investigation, and no arrests have been made. There will be a police report available when the investigation has concluded.”
In the video, Ritchson is seen standing over Taylor and striking him multiple times before walking away. He then tries to regain control of his bike as Taylor yells and waves his arms around, before Ritchson drives away on his bike, followed by two young kids.
According to Taylor, in comments to TMZ, Ritchson was riding a loud, green Kawasaki at an excessive speed through their otherwise quiet neighborhood. He accused the actor of revving his engine and disturbing the peace on two occasions.
On the first, the two flashed the finger at each other, and on the second, he yelled at Ritchson and the incident ended in a brawl.
Taylor claims that Ritchson hit him on the back of the head and caused bruising, although he did not seek medical attention.
“I’ve had such a s**tty day today, I don’t wish the guy any malice or ill will but we just don’t need people riding through neighborhoods like this and I decided I’d take a stand because someone had to,” he told TMZ.
When Taylor spoke to the Daily Mail, he said he would “hardly call it a fight” and denied that he started the brawl.
“I did not know who he was or care,” Taylor told the Mail. “I only found out after the incident.”
Witnesses say Ritchson was riding his motorcycle with two of his sons on their mini-bikes when Taylor “bolted into the street to try to stop Alan’s bike in a really aggressive manner.”
Ritchson fell off his bike, suffering cuts and bruises and a minor injury to his finger.
Taylor allegedly then “dared” Ritchson to hit him and was “yelling” at the prone actor.
The sources say Ritchson tried to leave, but that Taylor shoved him back to the ground, at which point Ritchson pummeled him, as seen in the video.
Taylor says he pushed Ritchson because the actor was riding towards him on his bike both times.
“The second time he got off his bike and kicked the crap out of me,” Taylor claimed.
A neighbor who witnessed the tussle said, “It was very shocking to watch. My 12-year-old son was watching the whole thing.”
“We knew [who he was] after the fact. We knew after the incident. We had a group [meeting] – we pulled out a surveillance video from our camera and one of the neighbors was recording the incident.”
WATCH what happened, then tell us your thoughts in the comment section.
Read more at Daily Mail
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