Brian Hickerson, the former boyfriend of actress Hayden Panettiere, spit at police officers during his arrest at a West Hollywood bar in August 2025, according to video footage obtained by TMZ.
The video shows officers removing a barefoot Hickerson from underneath a table at Barney’s Beanery. After being placed in handcuffs, Hickerson is seen gesturing towards and spitting in the direction of one of the officers.
According to reports, Hickerson was taken into custody due to erratic behavior at the establishment, where he allegedly broke a glass and threw a shoe at another patron. After an employee failed to remove him, police were called and encountered difficulty in apprehending him.
Hickerson had reportedly hidden under a table before officers could detain him. Despite the disturbance, the bar's owner told TMZ that Hickerson was not banned and that prosecutors could not file charges due to insufficient evidence.
Later the same week, Hickerson was arrested for allegedly being under the influence of a controlled substance. That case was dismissed after he entered a diversion program and completed 10 Narcotics Anonymous meetings.
Hickerson has a history of alleged domestic violence incidents involving Panettiere. In 2021, he pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend and was sentenced to 45 days in county jail and four years of probation. Panettiere was also granted a five-year restraining order against him.
Hickerson was present with Panettiere when she died in South Carolina on August 16, 2026, at age 36, following an apparent overdose. Her estranged mother, Lesley Vogel, has reportedly expressed doubt about Hickerson's account of the events surrounding Panettiere's death.
Hickerson's attorney stated on August 20, 2026, that "police confirmed there were no signs of foul play" in Panettiere's death and that the investigation was ongoing. The attorney added that there would be no further comment out of respect for Panettiere's loved ones and the investigation.