Posted on 11/11/2009 7:02:42 PM PST by OldDeckHand
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.
Someone at the scene tells TMZ ... the photographer got very close to Tyson before the boxer struck him. Our guy on the scene 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 -- we're told the paparazzo was transported to a local hospital.
If Tyson is prosecuted, given that he's a former boxing champ, the charge could end up being assault with a deadly weapon.
UPDATE: Tyson's rep says he was traveling with his 10-month old child when he was attacked by an overly aggressive paparazzi -- adding the boxer acted in self-defense to protect his child.
(Excerpt) Read more at tmz.com ...
I’m with Mike on this one.
Hasn’t the shutterbug heard about zoom lenses? If he was close enough to punch, he was crowding.
Probably hoped to get hit and get a payday either with the photo or the lawsuit.
Good for Mike
He needs to move to a very secluded spot and enjoy his life.
The SINGLE redeeming thing I can think of about otherwise disgusting Liberal Alec Baldwin is when he clocked a paparazzi at the hospital trying to take pics of he and his wife (I've forgotten her name) when they were leaving the hospital with their newborn kid. It was the ONE thing he's ever done that made me like him. Any decent husband would do the same thing. (Too bad ol' Alec couldn't carry on that sense of decency to the rest of his behaviors!)
Age of Obama, Tyson will get off.
Wll, I hope the photographer at least got a decent picture out of it.
Don’t forget he converted to Islam.
I wonder if he is the radical type?
I have to side with Mike on this one too. Too bad more celebrities don’t have Mike’s punching power.
In regards to Alec Baldwin, his ex-wife’s name is Kim Basinger.
He was a radical type long before that.
Another muslim attack? Is this a hate crime?
In all seriousness, if you mess with Mike Tyson and get within arms reach, you’re a dumbass. Not Guilty!
I hope the photographer kept his ears.
He’ll get sued, maybe arrested, but I bet it felt fantastic to drop that SOB. Celebrities have to expect near constant coverage, but they should be allowed a respectful distance. It’s common decency. In fact I think this case establishes a good rule of thumb: If you (acting as a paparazzi) get so close to the subject that they can physically strike you, you’re fair game. No weapons, just hands, fists, knees, etc.
“Age of Obama, Tyson will get off.”
I would say
If in the age of Reagan, Tyson should get off.
A guy should have the right to keep these people away from him and his children. Decent behavior should be expected and if it is not then a lesson needs to be learned.
Good for Mike
Punched a papparazzi in the face? Not guilty!
Smart idea. Punch a photographer in a place with lots of video surveillance and crawling with police.
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