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

Comments [518]

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61. As a celebrity, Harrelson has fans who want to see what he's doing when not performing. As a photographer of celebrities, that photographer was only doing his job by obtaining photos of Harrelson for his fans.

I guess this means when Harrelson is doing his job in front of a camera or audience, it's "OK" for someone to tell him to "stop", choke him and break any camera filming him, huh?

Posted at 8:41PM on Jun 30th 2006 by Rick Benn

62. The photogs are still out of hand.

Americas stars do deserve to life free in a free country. The photogs are stalkers

Posted at 8:48PM on Jun 30th 2006 by M.C.D'Arco

63. Woody Harrelson is a two bit thug, he should work for a ganster; because he's lousy as an actor anyhow. I'm sure he thinks of himself as a tough guy, but i bet he couldn't take a grade school student. I know my 9 year old grand niece could take him.

Posted at 9:04PM on Jun 30th 2006 by Lee

64. hey bro..... I got choked out by woody. How serious does that sound "hey bro

Posted at 9:05PM on Jun 30th 2006 by mlp

65. Woody's actions were totally out of line and he should pay for a new camera. Ok Woody, you are leaving a popular nightclub in Hollywood where it's no secret that the paparazzi are waiting outside. Play the freakin' game and let them take your picture! If you don't want your picture taken then go somewhere more low-key. To the person who said that the cameraman provoked Woody so that he could sue, you are a freaking moron...he is just doing his job. Smoke another joint and go back to your hippy commune you washed up actor!

Posted at 9:15PM on Jun 30th 2006 by Marc

66. i think he had a right to do it, it certianly didn't look like he left the kinds of marks that were on his neck, but since he's a celeb he should have thought it out a little more, before choking someone. it was bound to get on tape. he knew he was gonna get in trouble for it! he asked him to stop really nice. grr. whatever. and what the hell was the police doing! those guys should have gotten in trouble! remind me never to move to la!!!

Posted at 9:32PM on Jun 30th 2006 by misty

67. The camera man should have stopped filming the the moment Harrelson asked him to stop. The cameraman showed no professionalism what-so-ever. This behaviour on the part of the cameraman is a product of an over saturated over served media market.

Posted at 9:32PM on Jun 30th 2006 by Mike

68. PITA photog got what he deserved. Idiots like Levine STALK people...I don't care how famous they are or how much $$ they make....these people are human beings who have a right to have their privacy respected. Levine GOT his footage and then Harrelson asked him to stop....and he wouldn't. Any decent human being would have said, "OK, Woody, it's cool..."or whatever and stopped. MAybe then at another time, HArrelson would have paid him back and said, "This guy was cool before, so I'll let him shoot me this time." But no...Levine had to continue being a PITA and then say, "Not when you ask me like THAT!" What an a-hole! Harrelson should have busted his jaw! Poor widdle Levine...he hurt his necky-wecky! Hey, moron....ya mess with the bull, ya get the horns! The same way some commentators say that paparazzi come with the territory of being famous....the photogs then have to deal with getting ass-whooped as being part of THEIR territory if they act like obnoxious, privacy-invading morons.

Posted at 9:33PM on Jun 30th 2006 by JFC

69. Josh Levine had every right. He was asked the wrong way to stop. A-list actor or not, Woody should have never put his hands on Josh. I actually used to like him. Now I'm disgusted and would kick his ass to see how bad him and his gay ass security guard are. He's not the first actor nor the last that will ever get photographed. Oh and it's people like you(TMZ viewers, People Mag purchasers, etc.) that give Josh his job. The overpaid actors get paid well enough to handle their very so much wanted celebrity status. It's called publicity, Woody fans. Oh and that just shows us that LAPD is far from the finest. They were late for a meeting at the nearest donout shop, or better yet, giving a traffic ticket instead of upholding the law and serving they're bosses (taxpayers). Thye're like city meter-maids. But that's expected anyways. Cant criticize on things we know are bad, it's not ethical. LOL.

Posted at 9:33PM on Jun 30th 2006 by Ariel

70. "Hey bro, I just got assaulted by Woody Harrelson. He choked me out right now." THat's how this dumb-as, immature wimp talks to a police officer? "Hey, bro?".....you gotta be kidding me! He wants the police officer to take him SERIOUSLY....yet, he addresses him as, "Bro"? Once again, Levine got just what he deserved...and ended up looking like a whiny, wimpy, impotent cry-baby...which is probably an accurate read on his personality.

Posted at 9:40PM on Jun 30th 2006 by JFC

71. Why suddenly when it is a TMZ camerman, you headline this story with the word photographer? Josh Levine is obviously a PAPARAZZI.
Tell the truth TMZ, and people will have more respect for you!

Posted at 9:42PM on Jun 30th 2006 by Danielle Evans

72. So what do you think Woody did not want tthe public or his wife, to see.? Let's see. His wife just had a baby - she is home and he is out at a club, partying with two men and three women. He really did not want that caught on tape.

Posted at 9:56PM on Jun 30th 2006 by susie

73. In the second video where Levine is giving the body guard grief and then walks away, you can see the camera is fine and not damaged as the photo shows later. I think it is awfully convenient that the audio in the second tape is missing...maybe something on it that was not helpful to Levine's charges?

I also find Levine calling Woody "sexy" was a definite attempt at goading the star into some sort of confrontation. Had he just filmed, Woody would have never even paid any attention to him. Woody politely asked for the camera to be turned off and I see no evidence of woody breaking the camera from there.

Posted at 9:58PM on Jun 30th 2006 by Ko

74. So, Harrelson was holding a scumbag by the neck, trying to talk some sense to him. It doesn't constitute "OMG I'M BEING CHOKED!!! CALL TEH COPS!". TMZ, and pap-scum overdramatizing again.

Posted at 10:09PM on Jun 30th 2006 by Oscar J

75. Woody deserves to be in prision just like is jailbird daddy!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 10:10PM on Jun 30th 2006 by jessica

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