Hayden Panettiere's On-Off Boyfriend Brian Hickerson Detained as He Shouts: 'GPD Leaked It When My Girlfriend Died'

Handcuffed outside a Greenville bar, Brian Hickerson was filmed accusing police of leaking information about the death of his on‑off girlfriend Hayden Panettiere, shouting that 'GPD leaked it when my girlfriend died' as officers restrained him outside Wild Wing Cafe.

The incident unfolded on Saturday, 12 September, after Greenville police responded to a reported assault at the restaurant, detaining Hickerson at the scene and later arresting his brother Zach.

The incident took place on Saturday, 12 September, after Greenville police were called following a reported assault at the restaurant. Hickerson was detained and later released without charge, while his brother Zach Hickerson was arrested for disorderly conduct, according to reporting on the incident.

Bar Incident Ends With Zach's Arrest

Police were dispatched to the Wild Wing Cafe on Woodruff Road at about 9.10pm following a report of an assault. Officers found several people involved in an altercation, including Brian and Zach Hickerson, local reporting said.

Brian was handcuffed during the confrontation but was not arrested or charged.

Zach was taken into custody on a disorderly conduct allegation after officers described him as highly intoxicated and said he was shouting profanities.

Video of the encounter showed Hickerson accusing the Greenville Police Department of leaking information about Panettiere's death.

His allegation has not been independently substantiated, and no public evidence has established that police leaked information.

Death Investigation Remains Open

The Drug Enforcement Administration has reportedly joined the wider investigation into Panettiere's death, while her official cause and manner of death remain pending. Panettiere, 36, was found unresponsive at a Greenville residence on 16 August and was pronounced dead after emergency responders attempted resuscitation.

The Greenville County Coroner's Office said an autopsy found no trauma that contributed to her death. Toxicology and other additional studies remain pending, and no official finding has confirmed that drugs caused Panettiere's death.

Hickerson had met with DEA investigators and that investigators were pursuing leads involving a potential drug supplier. The report also said Zach Hickerson described Brian as administering Narcan after Panettiere was found unresponsive; neither claim establishes a cause of death, and Hickerson has not been publicly identified by authorities as a suspect.

Zach Hickerson's Account

According to Zach Hickerson's account, he and Brian were at the Greenville residence when Panettiere was found unresponsive. He said Brian administered Narcan in an attempt to revive her before paramedics arrived, but the account has not been independently confirmed by authorities.

The reported efforts to revive Panettiere form part of the wider account of her final hours, while the official cause and manner of death remain pending. The coroner has not confirmed an overdose or publicly established that drugs caused her death.

Comments Draw Fresh Attention

Footage of Hickerson's accusation circulated on X, including in a post shared by @IAmyLeigh. The post prompted questions about why he was handcuffed if he was ultimately not charged, while other users cautioned against treating the bar incident as evidence of wrongdoing in Panettiere's death.

At the time of publication, no fresh public statement from Hickerson's attorney or Panettiere's family had been reported concerning the Wild Wing Cafe incident. The episode has been reported separately from the continuing inquiry, though Hickerson's comments have drawn renewed attention to the unresolved case.