(7/31/98)
HAWTHORNE, Calif. (AP) _ Gary Coleman, the former "What you talking 'bout?' kid on TV's "Diff'rent Strokes," arrived at police headquarters on Friday to be booked for investigation of assault and battery for allegedly punching a female autograph seeker.
Coleman, accompanied by attorney Adam London, surrendered shortly before 3 p.m. _ two hours after a deadline originally set by police for him to appear for questioning.
Wearing a white T-shirt and khaki pants, Coleman said nothing but smiled as he walked through a crowd of photographers and reporters. London kept his arm around the diminutive actor as he shepherded him into the building.
Lt. James McInerny said Coleman was to be booked for investigation of assault and battery, then released on his own recognizance pending a court date or further action by authorities.
The 4-foot-7 Coleman, who now works as a Fox Hills Mall security guard, was shopping for a bulletproof vest at the California Uniforms store Thursday afternoon when he allegedly flew into a rage, punched Tracy Field in the eye and beat her when she collapsed on the floor, police said.
"He jumped up and hit her into the counter and into the vending machine by the door. He continued to pummel her body," McInerny alleged, saying the ex-actor had to leap to reach the woman's face.
"A witness has indicated that he punched her extremely hard," he said.
An off-duty Los Angeles International Airport police officer broke up the fracas and Coleman took off.
If convicted of battery and verbal assault, Coleman could be sentenced to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine and could lose his security guard license, McInerny said.
Mrs. Field, a Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus driver who was described as twice Coleman's size, noticed the actor in the store and asked him for an autograph.
"I said, oh my God! There's Gary Coleman," the woman told television reporters. She asked for his autograph and Coleman complied, but he became angry when the woman asked him to personalize it for her son.
"He snatched the paper up and tore it to pieces," she said.
The lieutenant said Coleman also made a racial comment to her.
"He said, `You black people are all alike."'
Mrs. Field then became upset and Coleman, who also is black, told her, "I'm not acting anymore. This is not worth anything," McInerny said.
"She said, `You are probably not acting anymore because of your attitude.' He hauled off and punched her in the eye. It took everybody by surprise," he said.
"The expression would be she was sucker punched. She didn't see it coming."
"He hit me in my eye really hard and I was dazed for a minute. I just couldn't believe it," Mrs. Field said.
The woman's story was backed up by store owner Rosemary Jones.
"When she told him no wonder you're a washed-up star _ or something like that she said to him _ and then he came from over the counter all the way over here and punched her," Jones said.
Coleman, now 30, starred as the lovable Arnold on the NBC series "Diff'rent Strokes" from 1978 to 1986. Years after the series was canceled, he filed a lawsuit against his parents and business manager, claiming they mismanaged his money.
Superior Court Judge Hiroshi Fujisaki ordered his parents to pay $1.28 million to their son.
During the Santa Monica trial, an attorney for the parents said Coleman had spent nearly all his money on 4' tall prostitutes and gold- plated size 13 shoes.