Tyson Is Charged With Assault for Kicking Man After Wreck

A man who said he was kicked in the groin by Mike Tyson after a minor traffic accident filed an assault charge Wednesday against the former heavyweight boxing champion.

Richard Hardick, 50, said Tyson kicked him after his car rear-ended a Mercedes-Benz driven by Tyson’s wife, Monica, on Monday near Washington. Hardick said his car was forced into Tyson’s car after it was rear-ended by a third vehicle.

The complaint charges misdemeanor second-degree assault, said Michael Johnson, administrative commissioner for the District Court of Montgomery County, Md. Hardick said Tyson also punched the driver of the other car.

Tyson, who is to appear at a hearing on Sept. 19 in Las Vegas to try to regain his boxing license, which was suspended after he bit Evander Holyfield’s ears in their championship fight last year, denied the charge.

“I did not kick anyone. I did not punch anyone,” he said in a statement released through his attorney, John G. Branca.

“My wife and I were the victims of a traffic accident. I am distressed by these false allegations. I did not touch anyone,” he said.

His wife backed up his story, saying: “Mike did not punch, kick or touch anyone at any time.”

In the complaint, Hardick said he was talking to the driver of the third car about the accident when he saw Tyson punch the driver. Tyson’s wife and another man--a Tyson bodyguard, witnesses told police--were trying to restrain the boxer, he said.

“Despite being restrained, Mr. Tyson hit the man in the face,” Hardick said. Fearing for his own safety, Hardick said he returned to his car and locked it, but subsequently rolled down his window to talk with the man who had earlier tried to restrain Tyson.

“I then thought that Mr. Tyson had calmed down and we could proceed with the exchange of information,” Hardick said in the complaint, explaining why he got out of his car a second time.

Tyson was being restrained again, but managed to kick Hardick in the groin, he said.

Tyson, 32, left the scene but later was pulled over by police, who had received calls from witnesses. He was not originally charged because there was no evidence of serious injury.

A preliminary hearing on the assault charge has been set for Oct. 2.

In Indianapolis, Judge Patricia Gifford, who sentenced Tyson after his rape conviction, said she expected probation officials would review the Maryland incident. He is due to be released from court supervision in March.

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Former New York Jet defensive end Mark Gastineau, 41, was arrested for allegedly assaulting a Manhattan woman, the second time this year he has been arrested for attacking a woman.

In the latest incident, which occurred last Friday, Gastineau allegedly slapped the 42-year-old woman four or five times, threw her against a wall and choked her, a law enforcement source said.

Baseball

Sean Burroughs of Long Beach, the ninth player selected in the amateur draft, agreed to terms with the San Diego Padres.

No terms of the deal were disclosed, but Burroughs, the son of former American League MVP Jeff Burroughs, was believed to be seeking a signing bonus of at least $2 million to pass up playing for USC, which began classes Wednesday. Burroughs, however, will attend USC until he leaves for spring training.

Burroughs, a third baseman, batted .507 last season for Long Beach Wilson High. He first gained national notoriety when he led Long Beach teams to consecutive Little League World Series championships.

Mike Gillespie, coach of the defending national champion Trojans, said the scholarships of several seniors would be increased and a partial scholarship would be awarded to Justin Lehr, a transfer from UC Santa Barbara, with the scholarship money that had been set aside for Burroughs.