Charles Oakley charged with assault in MSG scuffle

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NEWS) - Former Knicks star Charles Oakley is out of jail Thursday after he was arrested at Madison Square Garden during a game Wednesday night.

Security guards escorted Oakley out of the Garden after getting into an altercation with someone in the stands.

"Charles Oakley came to the game tonight and behaved in a highly inappropriate and completely abusive manner," the Knicks said on Twitter. "He has been ejected and is currently being arrested by the New York City Police Department. He was a great Knick and we hope he gets some help."

Video from the game shows Oakley angrily shoving a man in a suit, reportedly a security guard. The several men ushered Oakley out of the stands. ESPN.com reported that Knicks President Phil Jackson tried to calm Oakley down in the tunnel.

But Oakley is telling a different story about the incident. In an interview with the NY Daily News, the former NBA star said he was seated two rows behind Garden Chairman James Dolan when several security guards approached and asked him why he was here.

"They were staring at me. They asked me to leave and I said I'm not leaving," Oakley told the DN.

Oakley shoved security guards before they pulled him away from his seat behind the baseline during the first quarter of the Knicks' 119-115 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Fans chanted "Oakley! Oakley!" in support of the popular power forward.

The 53-year-old Oakley played for the Knicks from 1988-98, helping them reach the NBA Finals, but has a poor relationship with the team because of his criticism of Dolan.

Oakley was handcuffed near an arena exit as he waited for police to arrive. He was taken to the Midtown South Precinct for processing. He was charged with three counts of assault for punching three men, according to the NYPD.