Kanye West arrested at LAX

This just in: Kanye West has a bad temper.

The rapper known for his award-show tantrums and blog screeds was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport. Here's the story so far:

Rapper Kanye West was arrested this morning at Los Angeles International Airport on suspicion of vandalism and his road manager was arrested on suspicion of vandalism and battery after the two men reportedly confronted a photographer and smashed the man's camera, authorities said.

The incident took place about 7:50 a.m. outside the passenger security screening area in Terminal 4, said LAX spokeswoman Nancy Castles.

Initial reports said the incident involved "a commercial photographer, 'paparazzi' " and a camera worth more than $10,000, according to Castles.

Castles said authorities were interviewing several witnesses. West was taken by police to the LAPD's Pacific Division jail, where Castles said he was expected to be booked.

At least part of the incident was apparently filmed by a TMZ cameraman who was at the airport, the celebrity gossip website said this morning.

The incident caused delays of about 15 to 20 minutes for passengers waiting to get through security. People waiting in line could see West, who was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, standing at the top of the stairs with about 10 police officers nearby.

Read the rest of the story as it develops right here.

-- Andrew Blankstein and Geoff Boucher

Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images

Comments

[Roger]

Whoa, I can't believe that...right after his bad performance at the VMAs. I wonder if BCN was in the entourage, because that might explain the arrest: http://tinyurl.com/6el7ux

[Catherine]

You can tell he's an only child....

[HotDamn]

Well Hell. Whose damn fault is it for spending $10,000 on a damn camera when some people in this country only make that in a year?

Serves that damn snoop right. He needs to learn how to mind his own business.

[fergus]

Way to go, Kanye. Paparazzi suck.

[TW Stone]

Maybe mr west could call mr. obama, who is a constitutional lawer and who may be able to twist this so that mr. west won't be guilty of assault and distruction of property. Funny how fame makes folks uppity and seem to feel that they have the right to attack others when the very fame the seek causes those who they have attacked to want to photographers!

[doppleganger]

LAX doesn't care about black people.

[Drew]

What the h3ll is a paparazzo doing in the security zone? Maybe they should investigate how they got there.

[isaac]

Kanye West goes to the airport on Sept 11th, and gets in an altercation at security. Genius move.

[George Anderson]

This may be a blessing in discuise. I predict that now, Mr. West will be mandated to attend an anger management class which he needs. Like most people, he probably does not realize anger management from a competent provider is good.

[erik]

hotdamn. you're an idiot.

[pripol]

West said at the DNC, Obama's acceptance speech was "Life changing"
REALLY?

[Todd Gillard]

Yea Papparzi are true parasites, but hot head "celebrities" that feel they are above the law and play by their own rules are far worse. Kayne proved that he is just a punk b..... thug. His arrest has nothing to do with race, if it were Brad Pitt kicking the crap out of someone at an airport in front of cops I would expect nothing less than being arrested.
To those of you that want to view it as a "because he's black" then you need to take responsibility for yourself and your own actions as Kayne does and get off this and quit blaming racism as it's that kind of whiney crap that perpetuates racism. If it were a white celebrity beating up a black photographer you guys would be crying for hate crime charges !

[Jordan Catalano]

@TW Stone: Ah yes, that lovely racist codeword 'uppity,' that seems to only get trotted out whenever a black American is intelligent and/or successful. You and Lynn A. Westmoreland need to go sit down somewhere.