Police Release Details About 'The Wire' Actor Wendell Pierce's Arrest

Atlanta Police told ABC News he was arrested Saturday at Atlanta Lowes Hotel.

ByABC News
May 16, 2016, 2:58 PM

— -- Actor Wendell Pierce was arrested Saturday in Atlanta on a charge of simple assault and battery, police said.

According to a report released by Atlanta police Monday, the actor got into an altercation with a woman named Maggie Baca early Saturday morning at Loews Atlanta Hotel, where he was staying as a guest.

Pierce, 52, who was with his girlfriend at the time of the incident, ran into Baca and her two friends as he was exiting the hotel's elevator, according to the police report.

PHOTO: Actor Wendell Pierce was arrested Saturday in Atlanta on a charge of simple battery in Atlanta, Georgia, May 14, 2016.
Actor Wendell Pierce was arrested Saturday in Atlanta on a charge of simple battery in Atlanta, Georgia, May 14, 2016.

"Both groups of parties began a conversation about politics which got Mr. Pierce upset," the report states. "Mrs. Baca stated that Mr. Pierce began to push her and at this point her and her friends began to walk to their room. Mrs. Baca stated that Mr. Pierce followed them to their room and stuck his arm in the door and tried to enter the room. Mrs. Baca stated her and her friends tried to push Mr. Pierce out when he began to hit her in the head and grab her hoodie, ripping the hood off."

The police report adds that Pierce claimed that although he followed the trio to their room, he was "standing outside when he was grabbed by Mrs. Baca and her 2 friends who attempted to pull him in and he was trying to get away."

Both Pierce and Baca declined medical attention, the police report states.

The actor was booked and released on $1,000 surety bond, according to records from the Fulton County Jail.

Pierce is best known for his role on HBO's "The Wire" as Detective Bunk Moreland. He most recently portrayed Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in HBO's "Confirmation."

Atlanta police said the incident "did not raise to anything significant." They added that Pierce did not make police aware that he was famous for his acting roles, nor did police on the scene inquire.

ABC News reached out to both Pierce and Baca for comment, but did not receive an immediate response.

After news broke regarding the incident, Pierce pulled out of giving the commencement address at Rutgers University -- Newark. The school announced via Facebook today that Pierce told the school that "he is declining to join us and consequently must decline the conferral of an honorary degree."

The school said that Soledad O'Brien will instead address the graduating class on May 18 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.