Brian Hickerson Released After Police Detain Him During Bar Incident Linked To Leak Claim

Brian Hickerson was detained and handcuffed by police in Greenville, South Carolina, on Saturday after a disturbance at Wild Wing Cafe, but was later released without charges stemming from the incident. During the encounter, Hayden Panettiere's boyfriend also accused the Greenville Police Department of leaking information connected to the actress's death.

The police detention came after Hickerson and his brother, Zach Hickerson, became involved in an altercation outside the bar, according to authorities. Brian was released after officers dealt with the disturbance, while Zach was arrested for disorderly conduct, and Brian's leak claim surfaced while police were at the scene.

Brian Hickerson Detained After Bar Disturbance

Brian and Zach had reportedly spent several hours drinking at a table near the back of Wild Wing Cafe before the situation escalated. Brian later approached the bar and began speaking with other patrons before allegedly picking up a bar stool and throwing it backwards.

Footage obtained by TMZ showed another confrontation in which Brian was lifted off the ground by a person behind him and carried outside. A bartender could be heard shouting, 'Let him go!' as the argument continued.

Greenville police were called to the venue over a reported assault. Authorities said responding officers found Brian and Zach outside, where the brothers were involved in an altercation with other people.

Both were placed in handcuffs, although the encounter ended differently for each brother. Police released Brian without filing charges linked to the disturbance. Zach was taken into custody after officers said he appeared highly intoxicated and shouted profanities while they were at the scene.

Police said Zach was arrested for disorderly conduct and taken to jail.

Brian Hickerson Raises Leak Claim Over Panettiere Death

While officers were dealing with the disturbance, Brian referred to Panettiere's death and accused the local police department of leaking information.

Video from the scene captured him shouting, 'GPD leaked it when my girlfriend died,' apparently referring to the Greenville Police Department. He did not explain what information he believed had been disclosed, and the reporting cited in the source did not provide evidence substantiating his accusation.

Panettiere, 36, was found unresponsive at a Greenville residence on 16 August. Zach later told TMZ that he went to the property after being unable to reach Brian or Panettiere, woke his brother and realised Panettiere was unconscious.

According to Zach's account, he called 911 while Brian administered Narcan, and the brothers performed CPR until emergency responders arrived.

Panettiere's cause and manner of death have not been made public. The circumstances surrounding her death remain under investigation.

Hickerson did not specify what information he believed had been disclosed, and no evidence cited in the reporting substantiates his allegation that the Greenville Police Department leaked information concerning Panettiere's death.

Brian Hickerson Relationship Drew Family Concern

The latest police encounter follows renewed attention on Brian's relationship with Panettiere. Her mother, Lesley Vogel, previously said she travelled to California about a year before her daughter's death to help Panettiere end the relationship, something Vogel maintained her daughter had decided she wanted to do.

'She knew that Brian was toxic,' Vogel told Good Morning America. 'She knew she had to get him out of her life.' Vogel said Panettiere later told her she intended to remain with 'the person' she loved.

Following advice from her therapist, Vogel said she told her daughter they could no longer communicate while Brian remained in her life. That decision led to their estrangement, which Vogel had believed would be temporary.

Separate reporting cited in the source said Brian had allegedly exchanged flirtatious messages with an unnamed woman he met at a Greenville nightclub about five months before Panettiere's death. One message attributed to him read, 'Great meeting you last night, pretty lady. I owe you a date.'

The exact nature of Brian and Panettiere's relationship at that time was not publicly clear. The source also said it was unknown whether they had any arrangement allowing them to see other people.

Police did not charge Brian over Saturday's bar disturbance, while Zach was jailed on a disorderly conduct charge.