Authorities used Taser in arrest of MMA star War Machine, witness says

More details are emerging about the arrest of mixed-martial-arts star War Machine, who is accused of beating his ex-girlfriend, adult film star Christy Mack.

War Machine, whose real name is Jonathan Koppenhaver, was taken into custody Friday at about 1:45 p.m. at an Extended Stay America hotel in Simi Valley, police said.

A guest at the hotel told KTLA News that authorities used a Taser to subdue Koppenhaver.

“And they were like banging on the door, trying to get it open, and they’re like, ‘Open the door, open the door,” Nicolle Blankenship told the station. “Finally when they got it open they yelled, ‘Gun,’ and then all of a sudden you see them shoot him with a Taser. And he got shot with a Taser and he went down to the floor, and then they handcuffed him.”

Koppenhaver, a Simi Valley native, is accused of going to Mack’s home in Las Vegas at about 2 a.m. on Aug. 8 and brutally beating her, leaving her with 18 broken bones and a lacerated liver, police said.

He is being held without bond on a fugitive-from-justice federal charge in the Ventura County Jail, according to officials.

Koppenhaver said on Twitter that he was innocent: “The cops will never give me fair play, never believe me. Still deciding what to do but at the end of the day it’s all just heart breaking.”

On Tuesday, authorities issued a warrant for Koppenhaver’s arrest, charging him with several counts of battery, assault with a deadly weapon and other crimes.

Mack posted several pictures of her injuries, showing her eyes swollen shut with purple and black bruises across her body. In a statement, she alleged that Koppenhaver forced her to shower in front of him, beat her savagely and assaulted her.

She also alleged that Koppenhaver stabbed her several times and that he had beaten her before their relationship ended in May.

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