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MSG reportedly fires top security chief and former Secret Service agent after Charles Oakley incident

madison square garden owner james dolanChris Trotman/Getty Images

Madison Square Garden Company has fired top security chief Frank Benedetto after the physical altercation that led to Charles Oakley’s ejection from a Knicks game and arrest, according to DNA Info New York.

Benedetto, who was hired by MSG in September, according to DNA Info, was formerly a US Secret Service agent under President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama.

The move comes two days after an ugly incident in which Oakley, a former Knicks player from 1988 to 1998, was told to leave MSG for verbally harassing owner James Dolan.

Oakley, who had a contentious relationship with Dolan, was sitting two rows behind Dolan and said the incident was unprovoked. As security surrounded Oakley, he shoved several people before being handcuffed and taken out of the arena. He was charged with three misdemeanors and was released by police later Wednesday night.

Oakley told The Undefeated on Thursday that MSG Security has been told to alert Dolan if Oakley is in the building. DNA Info reports that Oakley has attended Knicks games before without incident. Oakley reportedly attended a Knicks game last season and was stopped by security at the employee entrance. Employees reportedly asked if he could enter the game before letting him through security.

DNA Info reports that Dolan may take action against other employees in the aftermath of the incident.

MSG told DNA Info, “We don’t comment on employees that have left the company.” The Knicks had the same statement when reached by Business Insider.

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