Shia LaBeouf Arrested Again on Additional Battery Charge in New Orleans
Actor Shia LaBeouf has been arrested for a second time and now faces an additional misdemeanor count of simple battery, according to court records. This latest charge stems from the same February 17 altercation outside the Royal Street Inn & R Bar near the French Quarter in New Orleans, for which LaBeouf was previously arrested earlier this month.
Details of the February 17 Incident
In the initial incident, which occurred during Mardi Gras celebrations, police reports state that LaBeouf is accused of repeatedly using homophobic slurs while physically assaulting multiple individuals. A video from the scene shows a shirtless LaBeouf shoving one person to the ground and striking another in the face, "causing his nose to possibly dislocate," according to the official police documentation.
Local entertainer Jeffrey Damnit, identified in police reports as Jeffrey Klein, told The Associated Press that he was one of the victims attacked by LaBeouf. "He hit me, he connected a few times with punches, he pushed me a few times," Damnit stated. He added that LaBeouf had become aggressive earlier in the evening, pushing him from behind at the bar while shouting homophobic slurs and making threats against his life.
Voluntary Surrender and Legal Response
LaBeouf's attorney, Sarah Chervinsky, confirmed that when they learned New Orleans police had issued a new arrest warrant on Friday, LaBeouf voluntarily turned himself in at the Orleans Parish jail on Saturday. Chervinsky issued a strong statement criticizing the handling of the case, emphasizing what she perceives as excessive treatment.
"No regular person would be required to post over USD 100,000 in bonds, and be jailed two separate times for one misdemeanor incident," Chervinsky asserted. "Just as he does not deserve preferential treatment, Mr. LaBeouf also does not deserve to be treated more harshly by the police and courts just because he is a public figure."
Attempts to reach the New Orleans Police Department for comment via telephone and email on Saturday were not immediately returned.
Escalation and Arrest
According to both Damnit's account and the police report, after the initial confrontation, Damnit and others managed to subdue LaBeouf and attempted to persuade him to leave the area. However, LaBeouf refused to depart and became increasingly aggressive. Police arrived at the bar around 12:45 a.m. on the morning of Fat Tuesday and placed LaBeouf under arrest.
Damnit described LaBeouf's behavior as erratic, saying the actor "just got nuts" trying to instigate fights and threatening to beat up the entertainer and others present.
Legal Proceedings and Rehabilitation Order
LaBeouf has not yet entered a plea in connection with the charges. During a court hearing on Thursday, a New Orleans judge ordered LaBeouf to return to drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Following the hearing, LaBeouf declined to speak with reporters.
In court, attorney Chervinsky argued, "Frankly, being drunk on Mardi Gras is not a crime." This statement highlights the defense's perspective on the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The case continues to develop as legal proceedings advance, with the actor now facing compounded legal challenges from the repeated arrests tied to the same late-night altercation in the heart of New Orleans' famous French Quarter.
