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Max Power · 12-03-2004, 04:39 PM

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1676231
Tuesday, December 2, 2003

Associated Press
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Charges against Darrell Armstrong were dismissed Tuesday by a judge who ruled it couldn't be proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the Hornets guard intentionally struck an officer.

The dismissal came on the trial's second day. Armstrong could have faced a sentence ranging from probation to six years in prison if convicted of felony battery on an officer and misdemeanor resisting arrest without violence.

"I just felt like I wasn't in the wrong," Armstrong said.

Armstrong's attorney had argued the NBA player accidentally hit Officer Teresa Joyce, swinging his arm in reaction to her touching him as she tried to escort him off the street outside an Orlando nightclub on July 7.

Circuit Judge Bob Wattles said Joyce did nothing wrong by placing her hand on Armstrong's back or shoulder. However, the judge said it was questionable whether Armstrong knew it was an officer who was pushing him toward the sidewalk.

"The judge is the expert in determining the law and I respect his decision," Joyce said.

Defense attorney Zachary Stoumbos suggested Joyce, who sprained a finger during the encounter, was pursuing the criminal case to bolster a civil lawsuit. Joyce said Tuesday she hadn't decided whether to sue.

The case's dismissal came after friends of Armstrong who witnessed the encounter testified Tuesday that Joyce was "aggressive" in trying to get Armstrong off the street. A day earlier, Joyce had testified that Armstrong reacted "very violently" after she approached him.

"For someone to come up from behind him, it's impossible to know who it was," Orlando Magic forward Drew Gooden testified. "It was a natural reaction for anybody."

Armstrong, who played nine seasons with the Orlando Magic before signing with New Orleans during the offseason, said the arrest and trial had affected his playing. He did sit-ups in the hallway during breaks in the trial.

The Magic and the Hornets played each other later Tuesday in Orlando. Armstrong said he wouldn't give Gooden any breaks.

"I was happy he testified for me," Armstrong said. "But I'm not going to give him free lay-ups tonight."

The Hornets won 100-91.

12-03-2004, 04:39 PM	#11
Max Power Banned Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 2,640	RE:Mavs trade - Breaking news from ESPN 103.3 http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1676231 Tuesday, December 2, 2003 Associated Press ORLANDO, Fla. -- Charges against Darrell Armstrong were dismissed Tuesday by a judge who ruled it couldn't be proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the Hornets guard intentionally struck an officer. The dismissal came on the trial's second day. Armstrong could have faced a sentence ranging from probation to six years in prison if convicted of felony battery on an officer and misdemeanor resisting arrest without violence. "I just felt like I wasn't in the wrong," Armstrong said. Armstrong's attorney had argued the NBA player accidentally hit Officer Teresa Joyce, swinging his arm in reaction to her touching him as she tried to escort him off the street outside an Orlando nightclub on July 7. Circuit Judge Bob Wattles said Joyce did nothing wrong by placing her hand on Armstrong's back or shoulder. However, the judge said it was questionable whether Armstrong knew it was an officer who was pushing him toward the sidewalk. "The judge is the expert in determining the law and I respect his decision," Joyce said. Defense attorney Zachary Stoumbos suggested Joyce, who sprained a finger during the encounter, was pursuing the criminal case to bolster a civil lawsuit. Joyce said Tuesday she hadn't decided whether to sue. The case's dismissal came after friends of Armstrong who witnessed the encounter testified Tuesday that Joyce was "aggressive" in trying to get Armstrong off the street. A day earlier, Joyce had testified that Armstrong reacted "very violently" after she approached him. "For someone to come up from behind him, it's impossible to know who it was," Orlando Magic forward Drew Gooden testified. "It was a natural reaction for anybody." Armstrong, who played nine seasons with the Orlando Magic before signing with New Orleans during the offseason, said the arrest and trial had affected his playing. He did sit-ups in the hallway during breaks in the trial. The Magic and the Hornets played each other later Tuesday in Orlando. Armstrong said he wouldn't give Gooden any breaks. "I was happy he testified for me," Armstrong said. "But I'm not going to give him free lay-ups tonight." The Hornets won 100-91.