Kanye West arrested after scuffle at LAX
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Rap star Kanye West was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on Thursday after scuffling with photographers and smashing a camera, an airport spokesman said.
West's bodyguard also was taken into custody after he grabbed a television camera and threw it to the ground, said celebrity Web site TMZ.com, whose cameraman was involved.
Los Angeles airport spokesman Alberto Rodriguez said West, 31, and his bodyguard were booked on suspicion of felony vandalism. The bodyguard also faces a possible charge of battery.
They were released on bail. Prosecutors have not yet decided whether to press charges.
"We will wait for the police to complete their investigation," said Jane Robison, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles District Attorney's office.
Rodriguez said the two were arrested on Thursday morning outside the passenger security screening area.
TMZ, which caught much of the incident on camera, said West rushed toward a photographer and grabbed his camera. A struggle followed and West took the camera and threw it to the ground.
His bodyguard then ordered the TMZ cameraman to stop taping and to hand over his camera.
"The assistant then grabbed the camera, ripped off the mic and viewfinder and smashed it to the ground," TMZ said.
West, a nine-time Grammy Award winning rapper and record producer, performed at the MTV Music Video Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday, singing his new song "Love Lockdown."
(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Xavier Briand)
