Paul Bissonnette attack: video shows assault of former NHL player

PHOENIX — Footage from inside and outside of a Valley restaurant shows former hockey player Paul Bissonnette being punched, kicked and thrown to the ground by a group of men. 

Bissonnette did not go down without a fight. 

The assault happened Nov. 24 at Houston’s in Scottsdale. Bissonnette said on a podcast that a group of men allegedly decided to begin harassing the wait staff and he decided to step in and help the employee. 

In the video, Bissonnette is seen walking toward a group of people inside Houston’s restaurant before being punched numerous times. Moments later, an outside surveillance camera shows people in the restaurant running outside while the fight spilled outdoors and into the parking lot. 

Another angle shows Bissonnette walking backward while the men move toward him, one aggressively. At one point, it appears Bissonnette tried to run but was caught and pushed down by one of the men. While on the ground, at least three of the suspects punched and kicked Bissonnette. 

One of the suspects, Sean Daley, has been indicted “for engaging in violent and disruptive behavior and causing injury to Paul Bissonnette while his capacity to resist was impaired,” Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced Tuesday. 

Other men who were arrested are Danny Bradley, Henry Mesker, John Carroll, Edward Jennings, and William Carroll.

Daley is charged with felony aggravated assault and felony charges for Bradley,  Mesker, and John Carroll are being referred to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

Bissonnette, nicknamed “Biz Nasty,” played for the Coyotes from 2009-14, appearing in 187 games. He had seven goals and 14 assists while playing in the Valley and was known for his toughness and willingness to get into fights. 

Since retiring, Bissonnette has made a name for himself in broadcasting as one on the hosts of the popular “Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast. He made many appearances on Coyotes’ television broadcasts over the years before their departure for Salt Lake City and he also works for Turner Sports as an analyst on their national NHL broadcasts.    

When Carter, a sophomore in college at ASU, saw the mugshots of these six men published by multiple news outlets, he made a connection to something that happened to him just a few days prior.

While he was working at Raven Golf Club in south Phoenix, a group of men refused to leave the clubhouse even after some respectful requests for them to leave at closing time.

Seemingly unprovoked, a man in a lime green golf polo punched Carter several times in the side of his head. The surveillance video from the clubhouse captured the entire sequence of events.

“In that whole interaction, I didn’t think that he was actually gonna hit me. So it’s very surprising, for sure,” Carter said.

He knew immediately that the man in the green polo was Danny Bradley. 

Phoenix Police say they responded to Raven Golf Club after the fight took place, but all potential suspects were gone by the time they arrived. 12News asked if these two assaults were perpetrated by the same group of men. They issued the following statement:

Investigators have spoken to the victim in this case and are aware of the similarities to the incident that occurred at Houston’s in Scottsdale. We have spoken to the case agent in that incident and are working to resolve our incident while being cognizant of our responsibility to do so in a manner that is in keeping with the rights of both victim an accused.

Via 12 NEWS