updated 2:27 p.m. ET Feb. 22, 2004

ORLANDO, Fla. - A man who attacked the Orlando Magic’s mascot was charged Saturday with battery, disorderly intoxication and resisting an officer without violence.

William Jeffrey Hawkins, 39, put Stuff the Magic Dragon in a chokehold Friday night in the waning moments of the Magic’s 102-98 win over the Denver Nuggets.

Police were alerted, and it took three stun gun shots to get the 6-foot-2, 240-pound Hawkins under control to the point where he could be removed from his seat and dragged to the concourse, Orlando police Lt. John O’Grady said.

Orange County Jail records show Hawkins was booked early Saturday. He was released Saturday after posting bail.

“Stuff was nearly snuffed,” O’Grady said.

O’Grady said Hawkins told authorities he could not remember what happened.

“He appeared to be pretty much intoxicated. He told us he had quite a few beers,” O’Grady said.

Hawkins’ home phone number is not listed, and a woman who answered at his business said she didn’t know about what happened and could not comment.

“It’s in the hands of the proper authorities,” Magic spokesman Joel Glass said Saturday.

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