Ex-ref says Wilkins hit him first, tweets about incident

 Michael Cunningham and Kristi E. Swartz

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A former NBA referee was left with a swollen left eye and misdemeanor assault charges after he confronted and fought with Hawks TV analyst Dominique Wilkins following Wednesday night's game over an alleged $12,500 clothing debt.

 

Fulton County Rashan Michel

 

Rashan S. Michel was taken to Fulton County Jail after he was charged with two counts of simple battery, accused of assaulting Wilkins and a Philips Arena security guard. Michel was released from jail on $1,000 bond early Thursday. No court date has been set.

Court records show Michel filed suit last year against Wilkins in Fulton State Court, claiming the former player owed him money for clothes that Wilkins allegedly purchased from his business, Rashan Michel Custom Clothier. The business was dissolved in 2008, according to Secretary of State records.

On Thursday, Michel tried to explain his actions at Philips Arena in a local radio interview and on his Twitter account.

"I was like, ‘Let's handle this like men, work out a payment plan,'" Michel said on the Frank and Wanda Morning Show on V-103.

"I call what happened at Philips Arena earlier, Operation Repo. ... Next time have my money!” Michel tweeted.

In yet another tweet, this one addressed to Wilkins' Twitter account (DWilkins21), Michel wrote, "Pay your debts, poser."

Hawks spokesman Arthur Triche said the team has instructed Wilkins not to comment.

Wilkins also is a Hawks vice president who, according to the team's media guide, is responsible for "advising senior management on basketball-related issues and working as a strong voice in the community."

The incident took place near the Phillips Arena floor once Wilkins finished his broadcasting duties following the Hawks' game against the Orlando Magic.

Police said Michel made his way to the arena floor and confronted Wilkins along press row. Officer Kim Jones, an Atlanta police spokeswoman, said Michel hit Wilkins in the chest.

TMZ.com posted a low-quality video footage that begins after the incident had escalated and appears to show Wilkins throwing a punch as security personnel try to break up the scuffle.

Sekou Smith of NBA.com tweeted that Wilkins got in three solid punches during the brief fight, while his assailant landed none.

“A scuffle ensued, and we’re not real clear on what happened,” APD spokesman Carlos Campos said.

An arena employee with knowledge of the incident said Michel took a swing at Wilkins, who deflected the blow before shoving Michel into the first row of seats. An NBA security official tried to break up the fight but Wilkins shoved him aside, according to the employee.

Wilkins, who wasn't injured, punched Michel as the NBA security official, arena security and Hawks team security various security personnel broke up the fight, the employee said.

"It's unfortunate that something like that would go down here," Hawks center Al Horford said.

Hawks players' discussion of the incident centered around the police mugshot of Michel posted at AJC.com. Michel's left eye appeared to be nearly swollen shut.

"The results wasn't pretty," Hawks guard Joe Johnson said.

Michel, who is an Atlanta resident, was 23 and the NBA's youngest referee when he started working games in 1997, officiating until 2001. He later opened his clothing business.

Wilkins, 51, played for the Hawks from 1982 until 1994, and was enshrined into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.

State records showed that Michel owns A and R Motors Enterprises, which has an office address that matches Michel’s home on Summer Land Drive in Atlanta.

Wilkins had problems with the IRS around the time Michel’s clothing business closed. The federal government placed a lien against Wilkins’ house on Wisteria Vine Lane in Lilburn in 2008 for $37,833 in back taxes. The lien was released on Aug. 31.

Staff writers Alexis Stevens, Larry Hartstein and Rhonda Cook contributed to this article.