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Mike Shouhed is participating in a diversion program following his alleged assault on his former fiancée Paulina Ben-Cohen in 2022, and TMZ has acquired alarming footage of the altercation.
The “Shahs of Sunset” star appeared in court on Tuesday, where a judge decreed he must enroll in a one-year mental health diversion program after facing arrest in 2022 for charges of assault and battery.
A restraining order was also issued for Paulina, prohibiting Mike from using or threatening any form of force or violence.
Ben-Cohen filed a civil complaint against Shouhed earlier this year regarding the alleged incident and included images from this video clip in her legal claim; however, this is the first time the complete video has been revealed. She alleges that this footage was shared with the authorities as well.
In the footage, Paulina is seen pulling garments off a rack in her closet when a man, whom she identifies as Mike, approaches from behind, seizing her by the hair and forcefully pushing her to the floor, with the clothing rack collapsing onto her.
He then grips her while seemingly attempting to cover her face as she lies on the floor before evidently trying to snatch her phone. In response, Paulina throws items to push him out of the walk-in closet.
The video transitions to a playroom where the man seizes Paulina from behind, encircling his arms around her neck, seemingly choking her as he tosses her about the room. Paulina retaliates by slapping and punching him in the face and head multiple times.
In the course of the event, Paulina asserts that Mike proclaimed he would never abandon the household and went to retrieve a weapon… which prompted her and their resident nanny to contact law enforcement. Upon their arrival, Mike was taken into custody after the officers noted visible injuries on Paulina’s physique.
Per court filings, the prosecution consented to allow Mike to participate in a diversion course back in 2022, which encompassed anger management sessions, community service, and a firearm safety class. However, we have been informed that the city attorney’s office contested certain aspects of the decisions, explaining the delay in his entry to the program until now.
In her lawsuit, Paulina indicates that this was not the first instance of Mike’s aggression against her, alleging they engaged in another dispute in 2021 due to Mike purportedly messaging another woman.
Paulina is pursuing legal action against Mike, citing assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional suffering, and gender-based violence.
The attorney representing Mike Shouhed, George Mgdesyan, conveyed to TMZ… “This footage does not represent the complete video. The confrontation began in the living area. My client was attempting to prevent her from shouting because the children were asleep. He was concerned about her smoking indoors due to the presence of an autistic child, which wouldn’t be in their best interest.”
He elaborated further … “What is depicted in the recording shows my client’s efforts to pacify her, leading to him moving behind her to implore her to lower her voice. There is far more to the video than what has been shared, which justifies my client’s current path to receive a diversion.”