Mario's Assault Arrest Caused By His Mom's Drug Addiction, Says Lawyer
Oct. 3 2010, Published 10:02 a.m. ET
Singer Mario's arrest on suspicion of assaulting his mother Friday morning was an "unfortunate incident between a loving son" and a drug-addicted mom, the singer's lawyer is claiming.
Hassan Murphy told CNN that Mario's mother Shawnita Hardaway continues "to struggle with a devastating addiction," and the confrontation between the two revolved around her drug use.
"Anyone who has waged the battle to save loved ones from the forces of drugs knows the irrational behavior that almost always accompanies their actions," Murphy added.
Baltimore City PD officers responded to a call about a disturbance at the home Mario Barrett, the R&B singer and former Dancing with the Stars contestant, shares with his mother.
Shawnita was sitting in the lobby of their luxury high rise apartment building when the cops arrived. Mario was in their apartment, where the police found a broken mirror, a shattered glass cabinet and a battered door.
Brought back together, Mario, 24, yelled at his mother and pushed her, the police report says.
The incident is the latest tragedy for Mario as he tries to help get his mother clean. An award-winning documentary, "I Won't Love You To Death," made in 2007, chronicled Mario's attempts to get his mom off heroin.
Sadly, according to his attorney, the battle isn't over.
Mario was charged with second degree assault and released on $50,000 bond
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