Harrelson Chokes TMZ Photog -- LAPD Investigates

Posted Jun 30th 2006 4:46PM by TMZ Staff

Woody Harrelson choked TMZ cameraman Josh Levine late Thursday night as he left a Hollywood nightclub, and the LAPD is conducting a criminal investigation.

The incident occurred at approximately 11:30 p.m. outside Element, a club frequented by celebrities. As Harrelson left with three women and two men, Levine and other photogs began shooting. Harrelson became irritated and asked Levine to stop shooting. Harrelson then walked over to Levine, put his hand on the camera and asked Levine to stop. Levine said "All I'm doing is my job." Harrelson, who appears in "A Prairie Home Companion," then said, "I've asked you to stop, are you going to stop?" and Levine replied, "Not when you ask me like that." The video then shows Harrelson break the camera and the picture goes dead.

TMZ obtained a second video, shot by another photog, showing the altercation. The photographer began shooting just as Harrelson grabbed Levine's neck. There is no audio in this portion of the tape.

After the incident, Levine was visibly agitated and argued with a man who appeared to be Harrelson's security guard. Then Levine flagged down an LAPD patrol car and told the two officers inside, "Hey bro, I just got assaulted by Woody Harrelson. He choked me out right now." A man standing near Levine added, "Yeah, I'm a witness." The police did not acknowledge Levine and simply drove away.

Harrelson's publicist, Ina Treciokas, told TMZ: "Unfortunately, this is not the first or last time the paparazzi have provoked an incident with a celebrity. Mr. Harrelson is evaluating all of his legal options against the photographer."

Levine went to LAPD's Hollywood division and filed a criminal complaint against Harrelson. The police have Levine's tape as evidence, and TMZ has given the LAPD a copy of the second tape. Levine, who suffered neck lacerations, was then taken by two officers to Cedars Sinai emergency room, where he was examined and released.

Josh Levine

LAPD Detective John Padilla told TMZ the investigation is ongoing and "We're going to present it to the D.A.'s office" as early as today. Padilla added, "With the tapes and all, it's pretty good evidence." Padilla said vandalism and assault and battery charges could be filed against Harrelson.

Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Paparazzi Video, Movies

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(Page 35 of 35)Previous 15 Comments

511. Hey Woody, Paulina Rubio II. The paparazzi needs to do his job. Fake being a saint until you become one and then those bad boys of the media will leave you alone. You and Paulina could be a tag team. The Allied Powers with all do respect to Lex Luger and the David Smith.

Posted at 7:35PM on Sep 21st 2006 by george vieto

512. THEY WANT TO BE "STARS" THEY MUST PAY THE PIPER. WHO THE HELL DID WOOD SOME "HAS BEEN CHEERS "ACTOR TO BREAK THE GUYS CAMERA ID SUE THE SH#$ OUT OF HIM THEY THNK THAT THEY ARE ALL ABOVE THE LAW.
THERE THE ONES THAT WANT TO BE THE STARS, ONCE YOUR A CELEBRITY THE PUBLIC AND FANS ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACTORS REDICULOUS PAYCHECK.

Posted at 8:55PM on Sep 21st 2006 by swtmissy

513. i like woody harrelson, always have.

Posted at 12:03AM on Sep 22nd 2006 by Blair Ross

514. Jeez Adam, It's too bad Woody didn't do to you what he did to Robert Downey Jr. at the end of Natural Born Killers. Your just doing your job eh? Well part of YOUR job is to get beat on by pissed off celebrities when you can't take a hint. YOU HUGE PUSSY!

Posted at 9:05AM on Sep 22nd 2006 by Craigy Boy

515. It seems to me Woody was pretty cool from the start, the cameraman just likes to hide behind "I'm just doin my job" rather than NOT BEING A DICK. Besides, is there that much demand for Woody?? He shouldn't fight with the guy, but the photographer could have been cool, done his job and left him alone

Posted at 1:16PM on Sep 23rd 2006 by Mike Undercoffer

516. Like Father, Like Son.
Woody's Dad clipped the judge, and awaits the death penalty.
Tree Hugging, pot smoking Woody thinks it's OK to Bust up camera's and coke out photog's now.
Get a life Mr. Showbiz.
Now you'll be paying the fine and doing the time.
Pot smokers aren't punching out photog's.
Run a full screen drug test on the Wood and see what else he's on.
Sound's like crank or Coke to me, and lot's of it.
It's not like you don't expect your pic. to be taken in that capacity i.e. star.
You don't like the publicity, stay home.
It's not like you don't have a nice house.
Maybe Woodie needs some more thoughtful friends, or doesn't like his pic taken with dope dealers/users??
Now he get's busted, makes a deal, get's a fine, community service and probation, get's violated for weed + chaining himself to some palm tree at a hemp-fest, and the next thing you know, a failing star's career is revised.....
Personally I hope they have father and son cell's where dad is.
It would do the Wood to do some serious time, quit wasting his fan's hard earned money on trying to spring his dad, the murder for hire hit man, and start leading a life like Hanks or some of the real stars out there.....

Only so much idiocy the publlic can expect to have to take from this tree huggin, pot smokin, dipshit, who's character in Cheers was not much of a reach.

Posted at 11:29PM on Sep 23rd 2006 by marty Mack

517. This reminds me of the late Jackie Kennedy being hounded by 70's paparazzo Ron Galella. The paparazzo got his jaw broken. Levine got off quite easy.

Posted at 12:52AM on Oct 24th 2006 by Luis

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