Mike Tyson Arrested at LAX
Posted by Media Outrage on November 12, 2009
Mike Tyson, who just made an appearance on Oprah a few weeks ago, was arrested yesterday at LAX airport, for flooring a member of the paparazzi that got too close to he, his wife and 10 month old daughter.
Via TMZ:
TMZ has learned Mike Tyson has been arrested at LAX airport for battery after a bloody confrontation with a paparazzo outside the United terminal. We’re told Tyson punched the pap in the face and there is blood everywhere
We’re told Tyson was at a ticket counter at the United Airlines terminal when the incident occurred. The photographer got punched in the face, hit the ground, got up and began walking, leaving a trail of blood. An LAPD spokesperson said the photographer suffered a minor laceration to the forehead.
Someone at the scene tells TMZ … the photographer got very close to Tyson before the boxer struck him. Our says there’s blood on the ground and Mike was taken away in a squad car. We’re told an ambulance was dispatched at 4:39 PM to LAX and the paparazzo was transported to a local hospital.
Cops say Tyson and the photographer performed citizen’s arrests on each other — both are expected to be booked for misdemeanor battery. Cops also said witnesses backed both stories … so that could get interesting.
If Tyson is prosecuted, given that he’s a former boxing champ, the charge could end up being assault with a deadly weapon.
Tyson’s rep says he was traveling with his 10-month old daughter when he was attacked by an overly aggressive paparazzi — adding the boxer acted in self-defense to protect his child.
UPDATE 8:13 PM PT: Tyson has been booked for misdemeanor battery and his bail has been set at $20,000. The photog was also booked on misdemeanor battery — Tyson claims the photog got so close he actually made contact with the boxer.
UPDATE 8:33 PM PT: Cops tell TMZ Tyson was released on his own recognizance.
Mediaoutrage - Cats should know not to provoke Mike to anger, because, that hit must have felt like standing infront of a moving train. Peep below for Yahoo’s version:
LOS ANGELES – Police are investigating conflicting accounts of an airport scuffle between Mike Tyson and photographer that resulted in both men being booked and released on suspicion of misdemeanor battery.
The former heavyweight boxing champion and photographer Tony Echevarria, 50, want to press charges of misdemeanor battery against each other, police said.
The photographer told police that Tyson struck him once, airport police spokesman Sgt. Jim Holcomb said. The photographer fell to the ground and was treated for a cut to his forehead at a hospital.
Tyson’s spokeswoman Tammy Brook said the boxer was traveling with his wife and 10-month-old child when he was attacked by an overly aggressive paparazzo. “Mike acted in self defense as a father protecting his child,” she said.
“There’s a lot of different versions to this story and that’s all going to come out later,” Holcomb said. “Some witness statements support Tyson’s version, others support the photographer’s.”
Police also were checking if there was any surveillance video of the incident.
Tyson was cooperative as he waited in a holding cell at the airport police station, Holcomb said. Echevarria was booked and released after he was treated at a hospital, police said.
Holcomb said both men were released without any restrictions and free to go wherever they want. It wasn’t immediately clear if Tyson had continued his trip.
Paparazzi often camp out at Los Angeles’ largest airport to get shots of celebrities in transit.
“I’ve heard people were following him into the men’s room and trying to take his picture there,” said Tyson’s defense attorney, David Chesnoff. “My advice to him is going to be to vigorously press charges against what everyone agrees are ridiculously aggressive photographers.”
Lord Have Mercy said
I don’t feel sorry for that paparazzi one bit.
Kanyade said
IAWTC^^^
Sumarrain said
Poor Mike, trouble seem to follows him everywhere. My reactions to the paparazzi all up in my family face would of been the same but with less violence, glad so read both were arrested instead of only Mike. Good luck Mike I’m in your corner.
ucanb2 said
I hope it goes well for Mike… but you can’t be all in the man’s personal space. (not with my child there anyway)
MaliaMalia LOVES MO said
those paparazzi are pain in ass!!! i dont blame mike
Truly23 said
I think Mike should walk on this one the paps just have to suffer their “L”… He is lucky that’s all he walked away with fukking with Mike…
MissTX85 said
I don’t think Mike did anything wrong either. I mean what if dude was snapping pics all in the baby’s face? Do they know what continuous flashes can do to a baby?
Shit Mike should’ve knocked his ass unconscious!
Hate them damn paparazzi!!
itsurboi said
Its about time good sh!t mike. Who would wanna piss Mike off, especially a non-pugilist. The papazzo got what he deserved, i wouldn’t be shocked if half of hollyweird pays for his lawyer fees.
Rafiq said
Hmmmmmmmm Eventually the paparazzi will start moving tha phuck around when a person says move around.PEACE