Dispute Leads to Palffy’s Arrest

Ziggy Palffy, a cornerstone of the Kings’ franchise, was arrested early Sunday morning on suspicion of domestic battery after police received a distressed call from a woman at his residence.

The woman suffered minor injuries but did not require medical attention, said Sgt. Steve Tobias of the Manhattan Beach Police Dept.

Paramedics were not called to the gated community where Palffy lives. Palffy, 31, was taken into custody and later released.

“He and the victim were involved in an argument, and the argument escalated to a minor confrontation,” Tobias said. “We will present a domestic-battery case to the D.A.’s office, then it’s up to the D.A. to determine which charges would be filed.”

A crime report will be forwarded to the South Bay district attorney “within a few weeks,” Tobias said. Palffy is scheduled for a Dec. 17 hearing at South Bay Court in Torrance.

Palffy has lived with his fiancee, female bodybuilder Zora Czoborova, at his Manhattan Beach residence and in Slovakia during the off-season. Czoborova was the woman who made the call, sources said, but police would not confirm it because the woman is an alleged victim of domestic battery.

Czoborova, 36, allegedly asked officers not to press charges, but Palffy was taken into custody. Officers are upheld by the state Penal Code to make an arrest even if alleged victims change their mind after an apparent crime.

Palffy declined to go into detail Tuesday about the arrest.

“That’s my personal matter,” Palffy said. “Sorry, I can’t talk about it right now. I am a professional and I have to do my job, and I’m going to do it.”

Palffy, a 5-foot-10, 190-pound right wing, is among the NHL’s scoring leaders with 12 points in eight games. He led the Kings in scoring last season, becoming a one-man team as the club struggled with injuries. Palffy will make $7 million this season and will be an unrestricted free agent afterward.

Palffy has been the Kings’ temporary captain since defenseman Mattias Norstrom was injured in the Oct. 9 season opener against the Detroit Red Wings. Norstrom, who has been out with a bruised chest, could return Thursday against Vancouver.

Palffy’s attorney, John Tyre, said he would withhold specific comment until he received the police report, which could be completed as early as today.

“I’m waiting to hear back some more information from the investigator,” Tyre said. “They’re hard at work in trying to get to the bottom of the situation. Until I get the reports from the police department and see what their investigation turns up, I really can’t make a comment at this point.”

Palffy’s arrest marked the second time since Sunday the Kings have had to deal with a legal issue.

Defenseman Joe Corvo received a suspended jail sentence of two years after pleading guilty Monday to two counts relating to an attack on a woman last November in Boston.

Corvo pleaded guilty in Boston Municipal Court to a felony count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, his foot, and a misdemeanor count of simple assault and battery, said Bill Galvin, assistant district attorney for Suffolk (Mass.) County.

Corvo, 26, must perform community service in Boston and complete a counseling program. According to prosecutors, if he were to be arrested at any time over the next three years, Corvo would have to serve a two-year jail term.

“I’m glad it’s behind me, and I’m just going to move ahead,” Corvo said. “Everybody made me feel comfortable [Tuesday at practice]. My teammates are behind me and it makes everything easier for me.”

It is not known whether Corvo will play Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks, King General Manager Dave Taylor said Tuesday.

“Any [disciplinary] action that we take will be done internally,” Taylor said. “There’s always the possibility of league action as well.”

Taylor said he expects Palffy to play Thursday.

Palffy’s arrest is reminiscent of a dispute involving former NHL goaltender Patrick Roy in October 2000.

Roy was arrested at his suburban Denver home after his wife, Michelle, called 911 and told police she was afraid because her husband ripped a door off its hinges. Michelle Roy hung up after calling, but police responded to the call.

Charges against Roy were dismissed in January 2001 because a judge ruled it fell short of the standard needed for misdemeanor criminal mischief during an act of domestic violence. Roy’s attorney was Pamela Mackey, who is representing Kobe Bryant in his sexual assault charge.

Palffy’s arrest differs somewhat from Roy’s because there was physical injury, not property damage.

Said Tobias: “We are conducting this investigation in the same way we would conduct any other investigation with similar facts.”