‘The Wire’ Star Wendell Pierce Arrested In Atlanta After Politically Motivated Fight, Report Says

Actor Wendell Pierce, best known for his role as Detective Bunk Moreland on HBO’s “The Wire,” was arrested early Saturday morning after an altercation at a hotel, Atlanta-based CBS affiliate WGCL-TV reported Sunday.

The actor was arrested at Atlanta Loews Hotel where he was a guest, police told WGCL. He was booked into the Fulton County Jail on Saturday and charged with simple battery. Pierce was released from jail on a $1,000 bond.

While the Atlanta Police Department did not have an incident report over the weekend, TMZ reported that Pierce was arrested after allegedly physically assaulting a woman who is a supporter of Sen. Bernie Sanders. TMZ reported that sources at the actor’s hotel said he spoke with the woman and her boyfriend around 3:30 a.m. on Saturday.

The sources said Pierce became upset when he learned the woman backed Sanders for president. Pierce allegedly pushed the boyfriend and then went after the woman, TMZ reported.

Police told WGCL that “the incident did not rise to anything significant so no special notification was made.”

“It was treated like any other arrest a patrol officer conducts,” police added in a statement to WGCL. “Mr. Pierce made no indication he was famous nor did the officer inquire.”

Pierce supports Sanders’ rival, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, for the Democratic presidential nomination. He has been vocal about his feelings regarding Clinton and Sanders on social media this year.

He is involved with the Clinton Foundation through its “Alliance for a Healthier Generation” program, and on the night of the New York primary election, he tweeted praise of Clinton’s victory speech.

The actor, who recently starred as Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in the TV movie “Confirmation,” has called Sanders’ policies on health care and college affordability “empty.” He has also questioned how Sanders will accomplish his campaign promises and called for Democrats to unite behind Clinton in the general election.