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Celebrity Justice2/8/2007 2:07 PM PST BY TMZ STAFF
Ryan's Son Tethered Like a Dog

TMZ has learned what triggered the fight last weekend that resulted in Ryan O'Neal's arrest. Ryan's son Griffin chained his brother to a staircase in his home like a dog.

Law enforcement sources say when Ryan O'Neal returned from dinner last Friday night, he found his son Redmond (whose mother is Farrah Fawcett) tethered to a staircase with handcuffs on his ankles. We're told Griffin had chained his brother to the banister earlier in the evening, after walking in on him and finding that he was unresponsive. We're told Griffin believed his brother had overdosed and tethered him to prevent him from leaving and buying drugs.

We're told Griffin was so concerned, he called 911 and paramedics actually came to the house. Redmond was awake and said he had just been sleeping, so the paramedics left.

We're told when Ryan arrived home at 11, he tripped over the chain tied to Redmond and became enraged as Griffin laughed it off.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, they believe it was Ryan -- not Griffin -- who initially began swinging the fireplace poker. And these sources believe it was Ryan who struck Griffin's girlfriend before Griffin wrestled the poker away from his dad. Ryan's people strongly dispute this and claim Griffin was drunk and was the one who grabbed the poker first.

Launch galleryWe're told Ryan screamed "Get the f**k out of my house you asshole." Griffin and his girlfriend walked out, and we're told, for some reason, came back. It was then that Ryan fired a shot.

When deputies arrived, they found Redmond still tethered and shot video to document it. They also shot video of Ryan's injuries.

Sources say Redmond checked into rehab last Monday.

Griffin's attorney Gloria Allred would not comment on the details of the case, but did tell TMZ "Griffin's concern has always been for the health, safety and well-being of Redmond and Joanna. He continues to do everything possible to protect his brother and I believe the facts will support that assertion."

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Reader Comments

(Page 1 of 3) | 1 | 2 | 3 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments
1.

h8er#1:  1831 days ago

OMG!!! These people scare me....WTF? Tatum, would you please write another book?

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2.

Blue:  1831 days ago

I feel bad for everyone involved, family should never resort to this. As a mother of three I'm not sure how I would have reacted to seeing one of my children chained up like a dog by one of his siblings, there had to be a better way to keep him from leaving the house to buy drugs! Angry words, sure, kick him out of the house? Probably, but attack him w/ a poker and then fire a gun? Those are your kids! Whatever issues these people have, I hope they work through this, life is too short and blood should always be thicker than water.

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3.

A Man Who Knows!:  1831 days ago

Who the hell tethers a dog for doing drugs?......in humane!

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4.

Jim:  1831 days ago

Well Ryan is 3 for 3 on kids who are going to always have issues. The only answer is we all need to f*** Tatum.

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5.

djdw61:  1831 days ago

This is one crazy family! Talk about White Trash With Money. The weird part is that Redmond is in his 20's, he ain't no child...he must have been OUT of it if he could be chained to anything! And I thought I read in another blog that Griffin and his girlfriend were living with Ryan. What a mess!

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6.

Karen:  1831 days ago

Wow! Talk about candidates for family mediation. It sounds like all of them are out of control. Son Griffin could have found a better way to help his brother than to humiliate him by chaining him up. Do any of Ryan O'Neal's sons have jobs? Maybe if O'Neal did not financially support his adult children, they would have to actually work like the rest of us. Although "tough love" may be beneficial, "violence" is not.

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7.

Christi:  1831 days ago

It's really sad.. it's really quite unbelievable that family can behave that way. Also, is it true that Ryan is Griffin's only means of support? God.. celebs know how to screw up their kids lives... totally sad..

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8.

Tired and Ready for A Nap:  1831 days ago

Griffin chained his own brother to the stairway? He's 42 years old? No job? No career? No real money to speak of? A known liar who won't take responsibility for anything? He's going to become a father by a 23 year old who is young enough to be his own daughter? I can see Gloria Allred representing the girlfriend in a year when she decides to sue Griffin for child support and physical abuse. I am sure that rehab is the safest place for Redmond right now - away from this freak show.

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9.

Congrats:  1831 days ago

This family should be the next reality show. Brilliance!

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10.

Justin:  1831 days ago

Why Farrah ever hooked up w/ Ryan is beyond me. This woman can't seem to catch a break. She finally cancer free and ready to get back to "normal" and now this sh*t happens.

Advice to Farrah: Dump Ryan and his wacky kids. Spend time w/ your son Redmond and help him through his problems. The only thing that should matter to her is her health and her son.

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11.

Only in:  1831 days ago

Well I got news for you, These people are screwed up because of the drug dealers. This area is infested with crack.The drug dealers follow the famous people around. It is also known that the drug dealers give the drugs away for free just to hook the innocent into getting habits.

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12.

ROBIN:  1831 days ago

These are some strange people! Ever wonder why so many of the Hollywood-ites are such loons? They all need some serious counseling...sounds like to me! Poor Farrah!

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13.

Simone:  1831 days ago

If these events unfolded in a trailer park, I wouldn't have such a hard time believing this.

It's pathetic! What a dysfunctional family.

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14.

Manny:  1831 days ago

Maybe they should buy a trailer next door to that Baldwin character.

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15.

de de:  1831 days ago

The heck with Farrah. She doesn't have a kid till she's 38 and she can't watch out for him so he doesn't have a drug problem in his early teens. WTF her career wasn't too hot then. And she learned nothing from Ryans kids. Those rich parents in Malibu and Beverly hills are gone all the time leaving their kids alone and with money, the parents are self-centered and selfish til its to late. He probably didn't even finish high school.

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