Darrell Armstrong, known for his lengthy 14-year stint in the NBA and the subsequent 17 years as an assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks, found himself in a troubling situation over the weekend. According to reports first uncovered by WFAA in Dallas and later corroborated by other outlets, Armstrong was arrested on Saturday and is now facing charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The Mavericks have responded by placing Armstrong on administrative leave as the legal process unfolds. He has been released after posting a $35,000 bond and is awaiting his next court date.
The reported incident involved a heated altercation with a woman Armstrong had been living with and dating. According to the police report, tensions flared after she discovered a text message from another woman on his phone. The confrontation escalated, compounded by Armstrong’s alleged drinking, and reached a critical point when he demanded keys to their apartment. After the woman complied, the report claims that while on the phone with someone else, Armstrong picked up a pistol and struck her on the face with it. He allegedly then loaded the firearm and threatened to shoot her.
In response to the incident, the Dallas Mavericks issued a statement on Sunday, expressing their awareness of the situation and affirming their commitment to gathering all the facts. “We take this matter seriously,” the statement read. “The employee has been placed on administrative suspension pending the outcome of legal proceedings. This matter is currently under review by the appropriate legal authorities. Due to this fact, we will allow the legal process to run its course and we will refrain from further comment while proceedings are ongoing.”
Armstrong’s lawyer, Larry Taylor, also made a statement to WFAA, acknowledging that they are in the early stages of their own investigation into the incident. “We are in the preliminary stages of conducting our own independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding yesterday’s incident involving my client Darrell Armstrong. Mr. Armstrong has been an upstanding member of the Dallas community during his playing days and as a coach,” Taylor remarked.
