Haley arrested in Palatine, IL (July 2017). Court appearance (Feb 2018)

[Tusk]

H/T PJ

Former American Idol Contestant Haley Reinhart Takes A Swing At Bouncer

Former American Idol contestant Haley Reinhart was arrested early Saturday morning for punching a bouncer in the head. What is still unclear is how Reinhart, who is just over five feet tall, managed to reach the bouncer's head.

Haley and her friends were, umm… ‘asked to leave' The Lamplighter Inn after knocking over a table, and that's presumably when the smoky voiced singer turned prizefighter and unleashed the fury of her fist on the nearest bouncer. While bad experiences with club security are common, flying fists seem excessive considering being kicked out for flipping a table is far from unreasonable. This past weekend, the group I went out with was nearly turned away from a Lower East Side club because the bouncer deemed my brother's lack of sleeves unacceptable. He was being completely ridiculous but, far from going Ed Norton on him, my indignation amounted to a weak protest of "C'mon man, he's from out of town."

Since her run on American Idol, Reinhart has put out two albums and acted in the Netflix series "F Is For Family". Based on this past weekend's events, F is not just for ‘family' but for ‘fight', ‘felony' and… ‘fashion'? Yes, this is the same Haley Reinhart who did a Baeble series on fall fashion almost five years ago. After watching this clip, I cannot for the life of me see the sunny pop star who broke down her "classy, sexy pinup look" throwing a punch.

Based on this picture, she honestly seems more like the girl in the bar who would be taking group snapchats of herself and her friends, using those filters that give you dog and cat ears and immaculately glowing skin.

She takes to the retro style of the 1950's, but after seeing this photo, we're thinking she should go punk rock.

Haley's lawyer, Dina LaPolt, has released a statement claiming the bouncers were overly aggressive and that they injured one of Haley's friends. According to LaPolt, Haley is taking action against the Lamplighter Inn and its staff. She has been released from police custody and her first court date is scheduled for August 2.

[Tusk]

I was hoping to let it go, tweeted some videos to remind people what we should be talking about but we have an update... (H/T Kathleen)

Daily Herald: Police: Person hurt during Haley Reinhart arrest

Police confirm that a person was injured during the scuffle last weekend at Lamplighter Inn Tavern & Grill in Palatine in which "American Idol" singer Haley Reinhart was arrested and accused of punching a bouncer in the head.

The injured person's identity, attacker and condition are not being released because the investigation is still ongoing, Palatine police Cmdr. Craig Lesselyoung said Wednesday

The only charges that have been filed so far are a battery charge against Reinhart, Lesselyoung said, but it's possible, depending on the outcome of the investigation, that other people could face charges.

"We're still working to know exactly what happened," he said. "We have an investigator who's still talking to people who were there during that time."

Police also are trying to find surveillance video that might help their investigation.

Thing is I've had conversations on Twitter w/ two women siding w/ the bouncer, one said she saw the video that incriminated Haley (on TMZ another, maybe the same person, said she was a friend of the Police and they let her see the video....which seems highly unethical if not illegal)....so I don't understand that they are still trying to find the video, unless this is just the official statement, not revealing their investigation until it's complete

[Miguel]

A friend of the injured person said in a deleted TMZ comment -- before Dina's statement -- that Haley came to his aid as he was being stomped. In a deleted FB comment, one bouncer addressed another. He stated that he and another bouncer had the person who was injured subdued on the ground but the bouncer that he was addressing -- who was apparently playing innocent -- kneed him repeatedly in the head messing up his face. None of the three though are the bouncer Haley struck.

[Tusk]

Also possible the video they're searching for is of the inside, the precipitating events to what occurred outside (which we can see at TMZ there is video of what happened outside).....

[Haleylvr4evr]

A friend of the injured person said in a deleted TMZ comment -- before Dina's statement -- that Haley came to his aid as he was being stomped.

This is exactly why I say Haley is innocent in the situation. She was trying to help her injured friend, and that is truly who we know she is. She would never intentionally hurt anyone or cause drama. As Ringo says, "Peace and Love!"

[Himm2]

Update story in our morning newspaper followed by Puddles Pity Party announcement:
(Writer still has "album released last month" error listed)

[Tusk]

HALEY REINHART ARREST
BOUNCERS HAD FRIEND IN BRUTAL CHOKE HOLD
Moments Before Her Arrest

American Idol" alum Haley Reinhart's friend was taken down by bouncers and choked so hard ... his entire head was blood red during the bar brawl that led to Haley's arrest.
TMZ obtained video of the melee, and it's intense -- 2 bouncers at the Lamplighter Inn, outside Chicago, had Haley's male friend surrounded and at least one of them had his hands wrapped around the friend's neck.
Haley was right in the middle of the fracas and you see her square off with one of the bouncers, who accuses her of punching him in the head before tossing her out of the bar.
The brutal video supports what Haley's attorney told us -- that bar staffers had assaulted one of Haley's friends, leaving him with multiple injuries

[Miguel]

Shit. There's video.

[Tusk]

Reaaaaallly bad for the Bouncers....Really bad for the Lamplighter...They will probably be investigated for over serving as well as the spotlight has shone on them that they have a pattern of violent bouncers and Police being called in..... The negative publicity, the legal fees, the investigation...unless they have the time and the money, this does not bode well for the Lamplighter at all.

The irony is, many of the locals commneting were laughing at Haley, saying she was a nobody and "who?" and the usual small time jealousy stuff....

I guess this 'nobody' just heaped a whole log of "something" on these people and they're not laughing so hard anymore...

and for those that thought to capitalize w/ a lawsuit vs Haley? They'll need a lawyer all right, just not for what they intended

[Nicicarus]

Haley should not have gotten involved; however I can understand why she did. There isn't a clear view of said punch, didn't look as bad as they made it seem out to be. Regular girl that's drunk, she did listen to the bouncers and leave when told. So my big thing is I've seen guys and girls do way worse and not have police involved. Curious to see what happened after Haley walked out and that bouncer followed. Did he provoke her again? She could've just left, but was probably stopped to get arrested outside? If you obey and leave like she did why was she handcuffed? I bet the bouncers knew who she was and wanted some money from this. Hope she wins the case she was in the wrong for getting involved, but she had good intentions, but from what the video shows she did nothing worth an arrest.