Brian Hickerson Detained After Restaurant Altercation, Brother Arrested as Hayden Panettiere's Death Probe Continues

Hayden Panettiere's boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother Zach were both detained following a restaurant altercation in South Carolina. The incident came weeks after the brothers were present when the actress was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead.

The latest incident has inevitably drawn attention back to the ongoing investigation into Panettiere's death, particularly after Brian was filmed referring to her death while handcuffed. However, authorities have not publicly said the restaurant incident itself is connected to the investigation into the 36-year-old actress' death.

What Happened to Brian and Zach Hickerson?

Greenville Police Department officers responded to Wild Wing Cafe on Woodruff Road at around 9:10pm on Saturday, 12 September, following a report of an assault.

Police found several people involved in an altercation and detained multiple individuals while officers investigated what had happened. Brian and Zach were among those detained.

Authorities said Zach was 'highly intoxicated' and began yelling profanities in public. He was subsequently arrested for disorderly conduct and taken to the Greenville County Detention Center.

Jail records showed Zach received a $257.50 (£190) recognisance bond, which was satisfied before he was released on Sunday afternoon.

Brian, meanwhile, was released from the scene without being charged.

Brian Hickerson Mentioned Panettiere While Handcuffed

The incident attracted further attention after footage emerged showing Brian handcuffed and sitting outside the restaurant.

In the video, Brian could be heard telling officers, 'GPD leaked it when my girlfriend died,' apparently referring to the Greenville Police Department and Panettiere's death.

Despite the remark, police have not publicly established that Saturday's altercation was part of the Hayden Panettiere death investigation.

Reports have suggested the restaurant confrontation may have involved comments about Panettiere. TMZ reported that people at the restaurant had allegedly been heckling the brothers about her death before the situation escalated. That account has not been presented by police as establishing any investigative link between the two incidents.

Autopsy Found No Signs of Trauma

Both Brian and Zach were present at the Greenville residence where Panettiere was found unresponsive on 16 August, according to a police report obtained by multiple news organisations.

Emergency personnel attempted life-saving measures, but the Heroes and Nashville actress was pronounced dead at the scene. Brian showed officers a bag containing medication Panettiere had been taking, while investigators requested CCTV footage and executed a search warrant as part of their investigation.

The Greenville County Coroner's Office later said an autopsy found no signs of trauma that would have contributed to Panettiere's death. Her official cause and manner of death remained pending further investigation and additional studies.

Is the Restaurant Incident Linked to Panettiere's Death?

So far, authorities have not publicly announced that Brian Hickerson's detention or Zach Hickerson's disorderly conduct arrest is connected to the investigation into Panettiere's death.

The restaurant incident and the death investigation therefore remain separate matters based on publicly released information.

Panettiere's death investigation remains active, with Greenville police and the Greenville County Coroner's Office continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding her death. Preliminary findings previously indicated no signs of trauma or foul play, while the official cause and manner of death were still pending additional testing.