HIALEAH, FLORIDA: Anthony Chickillo, 30-year-old former linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers, allegedly had a medical episode at Hialeah Hospital which was caused due to his bipolar disorder, according to his girlfriend, Katherine "Tatu Baby" Flores.
Cops tasered Chickillo after he tried to attack everybody at the hospital, reports the Daily Mail.
The incident took place on October 6. Chickillo was at the hospital with his father when he began to "trash" an office, according to witness statements obtained by TMZ.
Officials stated that Chickillo then got into a wrestling match with his father, and allegedly tried to hurt others as well.
A video obtained by TMZ shows Chickillo barefoot and shirtless as police subdued and handcuffed him.
Flores said that the former athlete's bipolar disorder was caused by a concussion he sustained while playing in the NFL.
"It was just a medical situation," she stated, adding that he was hospitalized at present and was receiving the required medical assistance.
Chickillo was placed on a 72-hour psychiatric hold instead of being arrested, reports TMZ.
Katherine Flores is a tattoo artist who featured in Ink Master
Flores, who also goes by Tatu Baby, took up tattooing as her profession when she was 19. She became interested in the craft when she got her first ink at the age of 14.
A talented artist, Flores is known for her work in black and gray and photorealism.
She was featured in seasons two and three of the Ink Masters, a reality competition series on Spike featuring tattoo artists who compete in various challenges to assess their skills, as well as the Christmas special Merry Ink.
A fan favorite in the second season, she made it to the finals and was voted back for the third season by her fans.
Anthony Chickillo retired from the NFL in 2021
He played five seasons with the Steelers after being picked up in the sixth round during the 2015 draft. Chickillo then played with the Broncos for one season in 2020 before retiring.
Not a stranger to violent manic episodes, Chickillo was arrested in 2019 for allegedly assaulting his then-girlfriend, Canadian track and field star Alysha Newman. The charges against him were later dropped when Newman refused to testify against him.
