‘Crushing blows’ ‘lacerations’: Chris Brown arrested for allegedly assaulting music producer

Chris Brown was arrested in Manchester, England, on Thursday, on suspicion of causing serious physical harm. The arrest is connected to an alleged attack on music producer Abe Diaw at the Tape London nightclub in February 2023.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrest to the Sun, stating that Brown was taken into custody at the five-star Lowry Hotel and remains held by authorities. The investigation is being handled by detectives from the Central West Area Basic Command Unit and relates to an incident at a venue in Hanover Square on February 19, 2023.

According to a lawsuit found by Page Six and filed by Diaw in October 2023, the assault involved Brown allegedly hitting Diaw over the head with a bottle of Don Julio 1942 tequila. The lawsuit describes a violent attack, claiming Brown kept assaulting Diaw by “ruthlessly stomping on him” and kicking him in the back of the neck, which left him unconscious for about 30 seconds.

Chris Brown arrested and sued for assault

Diaw states that these “crushing blows” caused serious injuries, including cuts on his head and torn ligaments in his leg, which required hospital treatment. The injuries were severe enough that he needed medical care for the head wounds and leg damage.

In addition to the physical attack, Diaw’s lawsuit also accuses Brown of spreading false and damaging statements about him. Diaw claims that after the incident, Brown engaged in “defamatory conduct by spreading false rumors” about him and his clients, specifically saying that Brown falsely called him a thief to harm his professional relationships.

This part of the lawsuit highlights the claim that Brown’s actions went beyond just physical violence and also included damage to Diaw’s reputation. The lawsuit asks for an unspecified amount of money in damages to cover Diaw’s medical bills, lost earnings, and emotional suffering caused by the incident and its aftermath.

The arrest in Manchester comes more than a year after the alleged assault and the filing of the lawsuit. The timing of the arrest suggests that the Metropolitan Police conducted a detailed investigation, gathering enough evidence to move forward with detaining Brown.

This incident is another legal issue for the Grammy Award-winning artist. Brown has a long history of legal problems, most notably his 2009 felony assault conviction for violently attacking his then-girlfriend, Rihanna. Brown even sued a documentary for speaking about his infamous assault.

That high-profile case ended with a plea deal and a period of probation. A woman sued Brown for allegedly assaulting her. Also adding to his legal troubles, a five-year restraining order was issued against Brown in 2017 by his ex-girlfriend, Karrueche Tran, following claims of aggressive behavior.

The restraining order points to a pattern of behavior that has repeatedly led to legal consequences. If the current arrest leads to a conviction, it would add significantly to his already lengthy record of legal issues.