Scottsdale Police Unmask Six Suspects in Assault on Ex-Coyote Paul Bissonnette

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Paul Bissonnette, a former player for the Arizona Coyotes, was hospitalized following an assault involving six men at a local restaurant. The incident occurred on Sunday evening at Houston’s near McDonald Drive and Scottsdale Road, according to the Scottsdale Police Department (SPD).

The altercation began around 7:30 p.m. when Bissonnette, attempting to defuse a confrontation between the men and the restaurant’s management, became involved. SPD reported that the situation escalated quickly, leading to Bissonnette being assaulted both inside and outside the establishment.

Following the assault, Bissonnette was taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. While specifics on the severity of his injuries were not disclosed, police confirmed that the six assailants have been arrested and are facing charges of assault and disorderly conduct. They have been identified as Henry Mesker, John Carroll, William Carroll, Danny Bradley, Edward Jennings, and Sean Daley.

In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, shared a screenshot of a conversation with Bissonnette, who reassured followers that he was okay, stating he “took some but gave more.” Bissonnette elaborated on the incident in a video, describing the events at the restaurant and expressing his frustration with the aggressors.

“I went over and just grabbed the guy’s arm that was on [the manager]. I said, ‘Sir, if you continue to harass and assault the staff, we’re going to have problems,’ and then they just started chucking,” Bissonnette recounted. He detailed a chaotic scene where the confrontation spilled into the parking lot and beyond.

Bissonnette, known as “Biz Nasty,” played for the Coyotes between 2009 and 2014, earning a reputation for his toughness. After retiring, he transitioned into broadcasting, becoming a prominent figure on the “Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast and serving as an analyst for Turner Sports’ NHL broadcasts.

Bissonnette plans to discuss the incident further in an upcoming episode of “Spittin’ Chiclets,” set to air Wednesday.