August 12th, 2008 / Author: OK! Staff
A day after he threw his family into the scandal spotlight after being arrested for allegedly striking his wife during an argument, Hayden Panettiere’s father, Alan "Skip" Panettiere and her mother Lesley are finally talking.
“It was all a big misunderstanding,” the parents of the Heroes star tell TV’s Extra, claiming that “nothing actually happened… Lesley wasn’t even aware that Skip had been arrested.”
Extra’s Mario Lopez also reports that Hayden, who lives near her parents in her own home, was not in their house during the arrest in the early hours of Monday morning and didn’t find out found out about the incident until her father called her from jail.
According to the report, Mr. and Mrs. Panettiere “love each other very much and want everyone to know that the matter was completely blown out of proportion.”
Yesterday, a representative from the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Dept. told OK! that Lesley had been "struck three times," but declined both medical assistance and the offer of an emergency protection order against her husband. Alan was released last night on $50,000 bail.
August 11th, 2008 / Author: OK! Staff
In the wake of the reports that Hayden Panettiere’s father, Alan, had been arrested in the early hours of Monday on charges of felony domestic violence, OK! has learned that the Heroes star’s mother, Lesley, has declined placing a restraining order against her husband.
"We don’t know if the victim is going to pursue [the charges]," Steve Whitmore, a spokesperson for the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Dept., tells OK!. "Anytime there is a domestic allegation, the victim is offered an emergency protection order, basically a restraining order. She declined it."
Whitmore also revealed that Lesley was apparently "struck three times." However, in addition to passing on the protection order, "the victim also declined medical treatment."
"The victim did have visible injuries and we also believe alcohol was involved," added Whitmore. "That will be part of the investigation."
Alan Panettiere is currently being held on $50,000 bond. The Sheriff’s Dept. confirms that he will receive a court date once bond is posted, which is expected to happen later today.
August 11th, 2008 / Author: OK! Staff
The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department has confirmed reports on TMZ.com that the father of Heroes star Hayden Panettiere has been arrested and faces charges of felony domestic assault.
Alan Panettiere was taken into custody shortly 3am Monday morning at the family’s West Hollywood home after an incident where the 49-year-old allegedly struck his wife Lesley in the face. It is not yet known if Hayden was in the house, as she recently moved into a nearby home of her own.
The family had been together Sunday evening at Beso, the Hollywood restaurant owned by Eva Longoria-Parker, where Hayden was hosting an event for The Whaleman Foundation, an organization that aims to stop the slaughter of whales and dolphins around the world.
According to police, it was at this event where Alan "apparently felt disrepected" by his wife. The charges were elevated from misdemeanor to felony because police called to the home saw visible signs of injury.
