The 52-year-old actor, best known for his role as Baltimore vice detective William “The Bunk” Moreland in HBO?s acclaimed crime drama series The Wire reportedly got into an altercation with a woman early Saturday morning at the Loews Atlanta Hotel, where he was staying as a guest.
According to the police report, Pierce, who was with his girlfriend at the time of the incident, ran into Maggie Elana Baca and her two friends as he was exiting the hotel’s elevator.
“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, who recently portrayed Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in HBO’s “Confirmation” was booked and released on a $1,000 surety bond, according to records from the Fulton County Jail.
According to ABC News, Atlanta police said the incident “did not raise to anything significant” and they added that Pierce did not make police aware that he was famous for his acting roles, nor did police on the scene inquire.
The news outlet 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.”
CNN’s Soledad O’Brien will be taking Pierce’s place instead to address the Rutgers graduating class on May 18th at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.