Celebrity Justice
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.

Josh Levine: click to watch

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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Reader Comments

(Page 4 of 35)Previous 15 Comments | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

46. Uncontrolled anger and physical harm is not o.k. whether upu are a celebrity or not. Taking photos from a good distance is not enough reason to do what Woody did. It is inexcusable and he should be sued by the photographer. LAPD is shameless in how they handled the situation. Woody - you are a scab!

Posted at 7:00PM on Jun 30th 2006 by Edward K. Noroski

47. Leave it to and over paid cop to just drive away I THINK IM PARKED IN THE RED ZONE

Posted at 7:07PM on Jun 30th 2006 by Alex

48. No one deserves the ignorance of the camermen and news media. they have gotten way out of control and things need to change. NOW
not wait until another "princess diana" incident.

Posted at 7:17PM on Jun 30th 2006 by Linda

49. Hoorah for Woody...the press SUCK!!!!

Posted at 7:23PM on Jun 30th 2006 by holytch

50. Levine deserved it! Woody asked you to stop and you tried to be a tough guy with your "Not when you ask me like that." response. You filthy pile of crap. If the guy asks you to stop.... STOP! Go find some other clown to film. LOSER!

Posted at 7:25PM on Jun 30th 2006 by Brett

51. Woody should have stuck that camera up Josh's posterior opening. Lack of respect can cause stuff like that to happen. Hey Josh, Look up the definition of the word and try and live by it.

Posted at 7:31PM on Jun 30th 2006 by Scott

52. The photographer deserved MUCH worse than what Mr. Harrelson gave him. The dialogue he started with Mr. Harrelson should be considered rude and disrespectful to ANYONE in Woody's place. The world seems to have forgotten simple manners and basic human respect. If the cocky photographer had kept his mouth shut, rather than shouting out "I can't help it, you're so sexy" in response to Mr. Harrelson's very polite request not to be photographed, then he would have his photographs, while retaining his manners. He would have been virtually unnoticed had he not opened his mouth.. No one would look foolish. What in the world makes a stranger think he can shout out sex remarks to another stranger? He would not have a job if he responded like that in a non papparazzi work environment. He should have been dismissed as soon as his employers heard his degrading comments on tape. Hopefully the next person he makes those remarks to will force him to find his manners. He deserved MUCH worse than what he got.

Posted at 7:32PM on Jun 30th 2006 by Choco

53. Go Woody, should have decked the sucker ! they just won"t stop will they, you deserve a life too ,

God Bless !!!!

Posted at 7:50PM on Jun 30th 2006 by bill

54. Celebrities live in a glass fishbowl. They forget who pays the bills. The photographer as well as everyone who pays for anything with a celebrity in it (movies, magazines) are the reason celebrities can afford the posh lifestyle they have. Celebs such as Harrelson need to suck it up. I hope photog Levine is okay, and prevails in court!! If Woody doesn't like the limelight, he can move himself, the wife and kids out of their multi million dollar home and lifestyle and live in a double wide in Podunk someplace. That goes not only for Woody, but for all celebrities. Take the bitter with the sweet, moneydouchebags.

Posted at 7:52PM on Jun 30th 2006 by Cheryllen

55. They should have laws against filming anyone repeatedly and/or from within a certain distance without their permission, and laws against camping outside someone's house on foot or in a helicopter simply for the purpose of taking a picture of a celebrity. Add these laws to the anti-stalking laws.

But I don't care how much taunting or baiting someone does, YOU DON'T PHYSICALLY ATTACK THEM. You work to change the law (per above), you don't act as vigilante.

Posted at 7:54PM on Jun 30th 2006 by John

56. I think once a person being pursued by a camera person asks more than once that they stop or at least move to let the person being pusued get by ..that if the camera person does not move....... then it is in the persons right to use whatever force needed to move them ...sometimes celebrities have weirdos stalking them ..and they dont have to let any tom dick or harry get in their face just because they have a camera in hand .....there is no way of knowing who that person is unless they stop and show you credentials..............it is unerving to be constantly aggressively yelled at and camera's being shoved in youre face no matter what you might be doing......at that moment .....any time day or night .........some of these photographers feel that they have the right to harass at any given time day or night ..they are ruthless rude and insensittive ...non celebrity people think they are entitled to do whatever they want to a celebrity ..... and these camera people need to realize not everyone feels comfortable being grabbed at by strangers.......who happen to have a camera in hand .......and this entitlement ..... should not be the case ......ever good common sense good common courtesy ............and just plain class is needed so I say go woody beat the heck out of that camera person if they made you feel unsafe

Posted at 8:02PM on Jun 30th 2006 by curtis

57. Woody asked the jackass very politely to stop filming. TMZ was out of line to continue. I don't blame Woody one bit.

TMZ ... LEAVE THESE CELEBRITIES ALONE.

Posted at 8:18PM on Jun 30th 2006 by S Carter

58. There are sleazeball ambulance chasing attorneys......

And sleazeball celebrity chasing photographers.........

The sleazeball got what he deserved. He provoked Woody.

BTW: Was Woody upset because he got filmed without his wife... she is oriental isn't she?? Hmmmm.... Busted!!! I'd be pissed too!!!

Posted at 8:21PM on Jun 30th 2006 by ernie

59. The photographer asked for it, Woody asked to be left alone and nicely. Woody should press charges against the photographer for harrassment.

Posted at 8:27PM on Jun 30th 2006 by Jodi

60. the only reason the photographer is pursuing this is publicity, its a story, the blood suckers in the media will tell any lie, break any law, just to make a buck and thats what this is about, nothing more or less, any other reason the come up with is a lie, period.

Posted at 8:40PM on Jun 30th 2006 by jerry

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