Sir Rod Stewart has been charged by police after allegedly punching a security guard at a hotel in Florida.<\/p>\n
A police report says the altercation occurred after singer and his companions, including his son Sean, failed to gain access to a private event on New Year’s Eve.<\/p>\n
Sean allegedly pushed the security guard and Sir Rod struck his chest “with a closed fist”, the report says.<\/p>\n
Sir Rod and his son were both charged with “simple battery”.<\/p>\n
The security guard at the Breakers Palm Beach Hotel, named as Jessie Dixon, told officers that he saw a group of people near the check-in table of the private event in the children’s area, trying to enter without permission.<\/p>\n
Mr Dixon told police that the group “began to get loud and cause a scene”, refusing to leave.<\/p>\n
Sean Stewart got “nose to nose” with the security guard, according to the affidavit, who told him to back away.<\/p>\n
The report then alleges that Sean Stewart shoved Mr Dixon backwards, before Sir Rod stepped towards the security guard and threw a punch, hitting him in the left ribcage.<\/p>\n
The arresting officer says in the report that he made contact with Sir Rod, who said he and his family approached the check-in table to try to gain access to the event for their children.<\/p>\n
According to the affidavit, Sir Rod told police that after the family were denied access, Mr Dixon became argumentative with them, causing his family to become “agitated”.<\/p>\n
Sir Rod, 74, apologised for his role in the incident, the officer’s report says.<\/p>\n
The officer says the altercation was witnessed by two other hotel employees, who signed witness statements confirming they saw the push by Sean Stewart and the punch by Sir Rod.<\/p>\n
Video footage also revealed Sean Stewart and Sir Rod as the “primary aggressors” in the confrontation, according to the report.<\/p>\n
Both father and son were charged and are due to appear at the Palm Beach County Criminal Justice Complex on 5 February.<\/p>\n
Source: bbc.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"