When it was initially reported that BJ Penn had been arrested at a Wailea hotel following an altercation, details were thin on the ground. Now, with a few more details surfacing, things aren’t looking so good for Penn. Hawaii News Now reports that Penn was apparently trying to pick a fight while out at a bar. When his friend tried to intervene, Penn decided to fight him instead.
Here’s their description of events:
Hawaii News Now has learned that a friend of BJ Penn is accusing him of an assault that happened while they were drinking together Saturday night. Sources said that Kuuipo Mokiao told investigators that he pushed Penn to stop him from picking a fight with people inside Kauhale’s Bar in Kihei. The retired UFC champ then allegedly challenged him to a fight.
Mokiao told police that once they headed into the parking lot, Penn suddenly punched him in the face, according to sources. The Kahului man also said that while was defending himself, Penn kneed him in the forehead.
Sources said medics took the 37-year-old victim to the emergency room at Maui Memorial Medical Center for a fractured left eye socket. Mokiao told police that Penn left the scene after security guards broke up the argument. Officers later tracked Penn down at a hotel in Wailea. He had suffered a minor cut to his right eye, according to sources. Penn was arrested for second-degree assault and then released pending the police investigation.
If that account of events holds up, things could be looking pretty bad for Penn, especially if his friend is willing to follow through on assault charges.
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