Olympic gymnast Paul Hamm was arrested after police say he was falling down drunk and refused to pay a cab fare. INSIDE EDITION has the story.
He's the Olympic gymnast who wowed the nation when he took home the gold at the 2004 Summer Games in Athens.
But look at Olympic hero Paul Hamm today. Cops say he was falling down drunk in the back seat of a police cruiser.
Hamm and his twin brother Morgan were welcomed as heroes after the 2004 Games.
The bizarre confrontation took place in Columbus, Ohio, where Hamm is now the assistant gymnastics coach at Ohio State University.
Hamm was at a local bar and took a taxi home.
The driver claims Hamm was drunk, refused to pay the $23 fare, and busted him in the lip.
Here's what happened when the cops arrived:
Cop: "Put your hands behind your back!"
Hamm: "Stop."
Cop: "Don't even think about it."
Hamm: "Why? Why?"
Cop: "Because I said so."
Hamm: "Why?"
Cop: "Put your hands behind your back!"
Hamm: "Why are you guys trying to make --
Cop: "Because you're acting like an idiot!"
Hamm: "No, you're trying to mistreat me!"
Hamm was arrested for assault and put into the back seat of the cruiser.
Hamm: "I want you guys to let me go. Why won't you guys let me go? I don't understand."
Hamm: "I'm going to kill you guys"
It's a fall from grace for Hamm, who has been training to make a comeback at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Now the courts will decide if Hamm's a hero or a zero.
