'Brawl at Chenal' features UA names.
The lawyer for Dr. Carl Johnson, a physician and the assistant secretary to the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees, said former Razorbacks basketball All-American Darrell Walker dealt his client "a vicious and deadly blow" with a golf club Aug. 31 at Chenal Country Club in west Little Rock.Mark Stodola, the former prosecuting attorney for the Sixth Judicial District and a lawyer with Catlett Yancey & Stodola of Little Rock, is representing Johnson.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, in a brief "Police Beat" item in its Sept. 4 issue, incorrectly reported that the incident occurred at the Country Club of Little Rock. Brian Jones, general manager of the Country Club of Little Rock, said the altercation definitely did not occur at his club.
Bill Tony, the general manager at Chenal, could not be reached for a comment. Walker also could not be reached either at his residence or through his attorney, Ron Clark of the Rose law Firm. Walker played 10 years in the NBA including the 1993 World Championship season with the Chicago Bulls and later coached NBA teams in Toronto and Washington. He lettered at Arkansas from 1981-83.
The Labor Day weekend incident apparently began on the 348-yard, par-4 eighth green at Chenal's new Bear Den Mountain course.
Stodola said Walker's fivesome was playing in front of Johnson's threesome when the physician's party requested for a second time to play through.
Both Stodola and the police report said an argument between the two escalated into an altercation that resulted in Walker hitting Johnson with a golf club.
Stodola said Walker swung for Johnson's head, and when the doctor blocked the blow with his arm the result was a fracture and chipped bone that required surgery to repair Stodola also said Walker kicked Johnson in the knee and that an MRI would be done to discover the extent of another resulting injury.
"Darrell's been known to have a hot-headed nature, and we thought he'd grown out of it," Stodola said. "Dr. Johnson is shocked and dismayed that anyone would do this. This response to the request to play through was uncalled-for and an outrageous physical assault.
"It appears that Darrell Walker's hot-headed nature from his playing days with the Razorbacks has come back to haunt him."
Stodola said Walker's fivesome included Ron Sheffield, the former Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, and Rick Mays, both of Little Rock. The rest of Johnson's party was apparently on another tee box and did not witness the incident.
Stodola said both Sheffield and Mays "extended the courtesy" for Johnson to play through but Walker objected.
"Darrell came over using several obscenities," Stodola said. "Dr. Johnson asked, 'Do you have a problem with me?' Darrell said he did, knocked Dr. Johnson down, and when Dr. Johnson got back up more words were exchanged.
"Ron Sheffield apparently stepped in and tried to keep them apart. While Dr. Johnson was being held back, Darrell ran over and picked up two golf clubs and struck Dr. Johnson with a vicious blow that would have hit him in the head."
The police report said officers were called to the scene at about 3 p.m. on Aug. 31. It said Johnson was treated at St. Vincent Infirmary Medical Center.
Clark, Walker's attorney, released the following statement after a media inquiry:
"Darrell Walker has been a resident of the state of Arkansas since he was 18 and has lived an exemplary life. While playing golf on Sunday, he was confronted by another individual and assaulted. Mr. Walker did what anyone else would have done under similar circumstances and defended himself. There are witnesses to the incident who will confirm that Mr. Walker acted properly."
In 2002, Walker was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.
No arrests had been made or charges filed related to the incident by last Thursday. Stodola said it was too early to determine if his client would seek legal action because the matter was still being investigated by the police.
Stodola said Johnson is 5-foot-7. Walker is about 64.
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| Title Annotation: | Dr. Carl Johnson in fight with Darrell Walker; Retail |
|---|---|
| Author: | Wood, Jeffrey |
| Publication: | Arkansas Business |
| Geographic Code: | 1USA |
| Date: | Sep 8, 2003 |
| Words: | 674 |
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