Kayne West Arrested in Wrestling Match with Paparazzi
Posted on September 15, 2008
Filed Under Assault, Celebrities, Criminal Law, Felonies, Law, Los Angeles, News, Paparazzi, vandalism |
In an altercation with a photographer at Los Angeles International Airport, Kayne West was arrested on a charge of vandalism late last week. According to news reports, West and his manager, Don Crowley, smashed a paparazzo’s camera into the airport floor. Both men were arrested and booked for investigation of felony vandalism.
In video clips on the TMZ celebrity gossip website, West and Crowley are shown wrestling the camera from a photographer who is screaming, “Police! Police! Help Me!” Crowley appears to slam the camera into the ground, followed by West hurling down a flash. Crowley then tussles with the TMZ videographer who was shooting the incident, breaking his camera before security intervened.
Celebrity backlash at aggressive paparazzi tactics has itself become increasingly aggressive. Woody Harrelson faced charges of vandalism and assault and battery after an altercation with a paparazzo in 2006. Harrelson is currently fighting a $2.5 million lawsuit by photographer Josh Levine who accused the actor of choking him and smashing his camera, then ordering his bodyguard to attack him.
American’s seemingly unquenchable thirst for celebrity news and the often exorbitant amounts of money celebrity outlets are willing to pay for celebrity photos and videos — particularly those showing celebrities in an unfavorable light — have created a feeding frenzy among paparazzi. Increasingly aggressive tactics by some paparazzi have created a celebrity backlash that also affects legitimate professional journalists and photographers who practice ethical rules of journalism.
Aggressive tactics by either side — celebrities and paparazzi – are against the law. Paparazzi can be charged with assault, assault with a deadly weapon, battery, stalking, trespass, conspiracy, even false imprisonment if they violate a person’s freedom of movement. Celebrities who try to take the law into their own hands can be charged with assault, battery, vandalism, even theft if they forcibly take a paparazzo’s camera or equipment. The celebrity/paparazzi battle is one in which cooler heads generally prevail. However, human nature being what it is, either side is likely to find itself in need of an experienced criminal defense lawyer!
-LegalPro
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