NEW ORLEANS — Hollywood actor Shia LaBeouf is facing his second arrest in New Orleans after being charged with an additional count of simple battery on Saturday, according to court documents.
The latest charge comes after LaBeouf’s February 17th arrest for allegedly attacking multiple individuals outside the Royal Street Inn & R Bar during the city’s Mardi Gras festivities. Authorities have not yet clarified whether Saturday’s new charge stems from the same February incident. Representatives for LaBeouf and New Orleans police did not respond to requests for comment.
During the February altercation, surveillance footage captured a shirtless LaBeouf pushing one victim to the ground and striking another person in the face, potentially dislocating the victim’s nose, police documents indicate.
Local performer Jeffrey Damnit, identified in police records as Jeffrey Klein, confirmed he was among those assaulted by the actor.
“He hit me, he connected a few times with punches, he pushed me a few times,” Damnit shared with The Associated Press.
According to Damnit, LaBeouf became increasingly violent, attempting to provoke fights while threatening to assault the entertainer and others present. Damnit also reported that earlier that evening, LaBeouf had shoved him from behind inside the establishment while shouting anti-gay slurs and making death threats.
Despite efforts by Damnit and other patrons to calm LaBeouf and convince him to leave the premises, the actor refused to depart and his behavior escalated, witnesses and police reports confirm.
Officers responded to the disturbance around 12:45 a.m. during the early hours of Fat Tuesday and took LaBeouf into custody.
The actor has yet to enter a plea in the case. On Thursday, he remained silent when speaking to media after a New Orleans judge mandated his return to substance abuse treatment. During that court appearance, LaBeouf’s legal counsel, Sarah Chervinsky, argued to the judge: “Frankly, being drunk on Mardi Gras is not a crime.”
