John Jefferson
Insets, from left: William Prieto, Holly Strong and Abigail Strong. Background: A fight broke out at Big Chicken restaurant in Hartland, Michigan (Livingston County Sheriff’s Office).
Shaquille O’Neal showed up to promote a chicken restaurant in Michigan and people became so desperate to get a look at the basketball great that a few people allegedly began fighting with deputies.
It happened Sept. 27 outside the new Big Chicken in Hartland, the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office said. Shaq, who founded the Las Vegas-based chain, was scarfing down some chicken inside the restaurant when a big crowd gathered outside the door.
“People started to get a little testy because they couldn’t get in, etc.,” Livingston County Sheriff Michael Murphy told Detroit Fox affiliate WJBK. “And then Shaq showed up. So that added a little bit to it.”
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As the crowd tried to get inside, 21-year-old William Prieto allegedly became confrontational with deputies after they asked him to leave.
Cops say Prieto took a swing at a deputy who then drew his Taser. That’s when 48-year-old Holly Strong and her daughter 21-year-old Abigail Strong, who were with Prieto, allegedly tried to disarm the deputy. Other deputies came to help and knocked over the Strongs, cops say. Prieto then allegedly attacked a deputy from behind and tried to put him in a chokehold. Two deputies tried to use their Tasers but they did not work.
Three cops eventually subdued Prieto and handcuffed him, according to deputies. The mother and daughter continued to resist so they also were taken into custody, deputies said. Prieto was carrying a BB gun that looked like a real firearm in his backpack, deputies said.
Several videos of the incident popped up on social media, but the sheriff’s office on Wednesday posted a security video that provided a “full picture” of the scuffle.
“I mean, what are we supposed to do? Are we supposed to let this, you know, 250-pound guy, you know, beat up my deputy for whatever reason,” Murphy told WJBK. “That’s not the way it works.”
One of the deputies involved in the incident suffered minor injuries.
Prieto was arrested for three counts of resting and obstructing an officer and one count each of carrying a concealed weapon and attempted strangulation. Holly Strong faces charges of attempting to disarm an officer while both she and her daughter are charged with three counts each of resisting and obstructing an officer.
There were no other issues at the event, cops said.
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