Wendell Pierce has broken his silence following his arrest on Saturday.
“The Wire” actor said he regrets that “a civil political discussion escalated to the level that it did,” leading him to be charged with simple battery at an Atlanta hotel where he was staying.
Pierce, who most recently played Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in the HBO film “Confirmation,” took to Twitter on Monday night to offer his side of the story following reports that he tried to force his way into a woman’s room after a political discussion went wrong. Pierce disputed the account given to police, insisting that the women tried to pull him into their room.
“I regret that what started as a civil political discussion escalated to the level that it did,” he said in a series of tweets. “Although what has been reported thus far differs in important respects from what actually occurred. I have confidence that the judicial process will work as it should.”
I regret that what started as a civil political discussion escalated to the level that it did. (1/3)
— Wendell Pierce (@WendellPierce) May 17, 2016
Although what has been reported thus far differs in important respects from what actually occurred, (2/3)
— Wendell Pierce (@WendellPierce) May 17, 2016
I have confidence that the judicial process will work as it should. (3/3)
Wendell Pierce
— Wendell Pierce (@WendellPierce) May 17, 2016
Maggie Elena Baca told police that she got into a heated political debate with Pierce on Saturday at the Loews Atlanta Hotel. Pierce is a staunch supporter of presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and the woman allegedly backs Bernie Sanders.
Baca said Pierce, who was at the hotel with his girlfriend, followed her and her two friends when they tried to walk away from the conversation. He allegedly tried to force his way into their room then pushed Baca, “hit her in the head” and ripped the hood off of her sweatshirt, according to the police report.
He was released on Sunday on a $1,000 bond and has since withdrawn from delivering a scheduled commencement speech at Rutgers University — Newark.
Pierce is best known for his role as Det. William “Bunk” Moreland in “The Wire.” He also portrayed trombonist Antoine Batiste in the HBO series “Treme.”
