Police say Gary Coleman involved in accident

Former ‘Diff'rent Strokes’ star had argued with man over photographs

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updated 11:57 a.m. ET Sept. 8, 2008

PAYSON, Utah - Actor Gary Coleman hit a pedestrian with his truck after arguing with him in a local bowling alley, police said.

Payson police Lt. Bill Wright said Colt Rushton and Coleman got into an argument in the early morning hours Saturday over pictures Rushton had taken of Coleman inside the bowling alley. He said the argument continued outside, and that Coleman hit Rushton and a car as he was backing out of a parking space.

Neither man was issued a citation, and Wright said it wasn’t clear whether Coleman hit Rushton on purpose. He said neither man was giving authorities much information.

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“We’re currently trying to sort through those issues,” Wright told the Deseret News of Salt Lake City. “We’ve been able to establish there was an argument between the two, due to pictures Rushton wanted to take. He took some of Gary Coleman, and (Coleman) wasn’t happy about it.”

Rushton was taken to a hospital and treated for minor injuries and released.

Neither Coleman nor Rushton could be reached for comment Sunday. Neither had a listed phone number that could be found.

Wright told The Salt Lake Tribune there are “indications” that alcohol was a factor in the accident. He was unavailable for comment Sunday.

Coleman, who starred in the television sitcom “Diff’rent Strokes” from 1978 to 1986 as the character Arnold Jackson, pleaded no contest in California in 1999 to disturbing the peace after he punched an autograph-seeker he claimed insulted him.

Payson is 52 miles southeast of Salt Lake City.