Walker arrested after Ybor scuffle

Bucs right tackle charged with disorderly conduct after being asked to leave nightclub.

TAMPA - On draft day 2001, Kenyatta Walker became a Tampa Bay Buccaneer.

On draft day 2003, Walker was pepper-sprayed by police and charged with disorderly conduct after a skirmish with bouncers at the Ybor City nightclub Prana.

The starting right tackle was being ejected from the club at about 2:15 a.m. Saturday when he screamed and charged at bouncers, Tampa police said.

"He was belligerent," bouncer Sebastian "Buster" Guarisco said. "He didn't want to leave when he was asked to leave. He made some threatening remarks."

Prana, at 1619 E Seventh Ave., has five floors of party rooms, including the third-floor "Sanctuary," a lavish VIP only lounge.

Guarisco said Walker was attempting to enter the Sanctuary when he was stopped by bouncers and asked to go to another floor.

According to Guarisco, Walker refused to leave. Five bouncers escorted the 6-5, 300-pound lineman down an elevator to the exit.

"It's going to take all five of y'all to get me out of here," he said, according to Guarisco.

Once outside, police said he charged at the staff and was pepper-sprayed by a Tampa police officer on patrol.

"Usually you ask someone to leave and they'll walk out on their own," said Guarisco, who also is a state probation officer. "But when you've got somebody of his caliber, his size, sometimes they just want to challenge you and don't want to respect authority."

Walker was arrested, charged with disorderly conduct and taken to the Orient Road Jail, where he was released on his own recognizance and given a notice to appear in court.

"I am extremely sorry that my actions may bring any embarrassment to my coaches, teammates or our organization," Walker said in a statement released by the team.

Friday night, he accompanied several teammates to Orlando for the NBA playoff game between the Magic and Detroit Pistons.

Guarisco said Prana was relatively quiet due to heavy rainfall, and that he didn't see any other athletes with Walker at the club.

Walker is the second Bucs player to be arrested in 10 days. Defensive back Dwight Smith, who returned two interceptions for touchdowns in the Super Bowl, was charged with aggravated assault with a firearm after, police said, he pointed a handgun at a motorist during a road rage incident in Clearwater on April 16.

"Until this matter progresses through the legal system, it is not appropriate to comment on this situation at this time," general manager Rich McKay said of Walker's arrest in a statement released by the team Saturday.

After a disappointing rookie season, Walker was switched from left to right tackle by coach Jon Gruden in training camp last year. Dissatisfied with his performance in the preseason, Gruden placed the former Gators star on the inactive list for the season opener against New Orleans.

Walker started the next 15 regular-season games and three in the postseason.

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