Associated Press reported Sept. 13 that Shaquille O'Neal 'has been credited with an assist away from the basketball court, following a suspect who allegedly assaulted a gay couple and alerting police. The 7-foot-1 Miami Heat center, who is in the process of becoming a Miami Beach reserve officer, was driving on South Beach about 3 a.m. Sunday. That's when he saw the man, riding as a passenger in a silver Honda, yell anti-gay slurs at the couple, said Bobby Hernandez, spokesman for the Miami Beach Police Department. He then got out of the car and threw a bottle, hitting one of the pedestrians, who was not seriously hurt. The suspect got back in the car and it sped off, but O'Neal followed.'
He flagged down officers, who arrested Michael Gonzalez, 18, on charges of aggravated assault and assault with a deadly weapon.