Coleman charged with disorderly conduct

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 18 (UPI) -- Former child actor Gary Coleman has been formally charged with reckless driving and disorderly conduct stemming from an alleged incident in Utah, police said.

Coleman, 40, was the star of the 1980s sit-com "Diff'rent Strokes," but his career stalled after the show ended.

"Mr. Coleman was notified today of the charges through his attorney," Lt. Bill Wright of the Payson, Utah, Police Department told People magazine. "(Coleman) never spoke to us about what happened, but we gathered evidence after speaking to witnesses and the other party involved."

The misdemeanor charges relate to a Sept. 6 incident, in which Coleman allegedly argued with Colt Rushton, a fan taking photos of him with a cell phone, then allegedly hit him and another car with his truck as he was backing out of a bowling alley.

Dustin Lance, Rushton's attorney, said in a statement released to People, "This wasn't a situation of paparazzi or stalker-razzi, this was a fan snapping two photographs with a cell phone."

Rushton was treated for minor injuries at a hospital. He is suing Coleman, seeking payment for his medical bills, pain and suffering and also punitive damages, People.com said.