Man Charged in Attack on Magic Mascot
ORLANDO, Fla. - A man who attacked the Orlando Magic's mascot was charged Saturday with battery, disorderly intoxication and resisting an officer without violence.
William Jeffrey Hawkins, 39, put Stuff the Magic Dragon in a chokehold in the waning moments of the Magic's 102-98 win over the Denver Nuggets on Friday night. Police were alerted, and it took three stun gun shots to get the 6-foot-2, 240-pound Hawkins under control to the point where he could be removed from his seat and dragged to the concourse, Orlando police Lt. John O'Grady said.
Orange County Jail records show Hawkins was booked early Saturday. His bail was set at $500, and he remained jailed.
"Stuff was nearly snuffed," O'Grady said.
O'Grady said Hawkins told authorities he could not remember what happened.
"He appeared to be pretty much intoxicated. He told us he had quite a few beers," O'Grady said.
Hawkins' home phone number is not listed, and a woman who answered at his business said she didn't know about what happened and could not comment.
"It's in the hands of the proper authorities," Magic spokesman Joel Glass said Saturday.
In Friday night's game, Juwan Howard had 24 points and Drew Gooden added 16 points and 12 rebounds to help the Magic overcome Tracy McGrady's ejection.
McGrady was ejected for twice kicking the basketball into the stands at the end of the first half. He was upset there was no foul call on his buzzer-beating layup.
On a night when he reached 10,000 career points, McGrady finished with 15 points — his fewest since going scoreless on Dec. 19, when he hurt his back in the first quarter.
Carmelo Anthony had 35 points for Denver, which had its three-game winning streak snapped. Nene had 15, while Marcus Camby added 12 points and 20 rebounds.
ORLANDO, Fla. - A man who attacked the Orlando Magic's mascot was charged Saturday with battery, disorderly intoxication and resisting an officer without violence.
William Jeffrey Hawkins, 39, put Stuff the Magic Dragon in a chokehold in the waning moments of the Magic's 102-98 win over the Denver Nuggets on Friday night. Police were alerted, and it took three stun gun shots to get the 6-foot-2, 240-pound Hawkins under control to the point where he could be removed from his seat and dragged to the concourse, Orlando police Lt. John O'Grady said.
Orange County Jail records show Hawkins was booked early Saturday. His bail was set at $500, and he remained jailed.
"Stuff was nearly snuffed," O'Grady said.
O'Grady said Hawkins told authorities he could not remember what happened.
"He appeared to be pretty much intoxicated. He told us he had quite a few beers," O'Grady said.
Hawkins' home phone number is not listed, and a woman who answered at his business said she didn't know about what happened and could not comment.
"It's in the hands of the proper authorities," Magic spokesman Joel Glass said Saturday.
In Friday night's game, Juwan Howard had 24 points and Drew Gooden added 16 points and 12 rebounds to help the Magic overcome Tracy McGrady's ejection.
McGrady was ejected for twice kicking the basketball into the stands at the end of the first half. He was upset there was no foul call on his buzzer-beating layup.
On a night when he reached 10,000 career points, McGrady finished with 15 points — his fewest since going scoreless on Dec. 19, when he hurt his back in the first quarter.
Carmelo Anthony had 35 points for Denver, which had its three-game winning streak snapped. Nene had 15, while Marcus Camby added 12 points and 20 rebounds.
