shia labeouf Arrested in New Orleans After Extended Mardi Gras Bar Crawl
Actor shia labeouf was arrested early Tuesday after an alleged assault at a Mardi Gras event in New Orleans, capping several days of public drinking and run-ins with staff at Uptown bars. The New Orleans Police Department says the actor faces two counts of simple battery following an incident just after midnight.
Bar crawl through Uptown: staff describe belligerent behavior
Staff at multiple Uptown drinking establishments described a pattern of boisterous, at times unruly behavior in the lead-up to the arrest. The actor visited a string of venues over a long holiday weekend, arriving at one late-night dive without a shirt or cash and appearing in an inebriated state, a doorman at that venue recalled. The doorman described him as "somewhat belligerent" and said LaBeouf at one point performed the familiar "Do you know who I am?" routine, while also agreeing to group photos with patrons.
Bartenders and co-owners at several local bars recounted that he returned to certain spots multiple nights, drawing mixed reactions. One bartender noted an incident in which the actor asked repeatedly to use a credit card at a cash-only bar and attempted to step behind the bar to help serve. Another staffer, who requested anonymity, summed up the mood in the neighborhood by saying, "He is terrorizing the city!" A co-owner of a parade-route bar said he was "totally chill" on some visits but added that staff had added a gratuity after a card was left unsigned.
Witnesses placed LaBeouf at a cigar bar with live jazz and at several legendary Magazine Street dives during parade nights. Conversations with those who encountered him suggested he was staying in a luxury short-term rental in the Uptown sector where many of the mega-parades roll, and that some interactions were cordial while others escalated as the long weekend progressed.
Arrest, injuries and social reaction
Police were called to a Royal Street business at 12: 45 a. m. local time on Tuesday. Using Eastern Time for publication, that corresponds to 1: 45 a. m. ET. Officers found a scene involving a disturbance and allegations that LaBeouf had struck one individual several times with closed fists. After being removed from the establishment, the person reported further contact and a second man was later said to have been punched in the nose. Officers restrained the actor until they arrived, and he was taken to a hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries before charges were filed.
The New Orleans Police Department has charged him with two counts of simple battery. He is due back in court on March 19. In the hours after the arrest, the actor posted a brief message to his social account with roughly 454, 000 followers that read, "Free Me. " He was also seen returning to Mardi Gras festivities after receiving treatment.
There is no public comment from his representatives at this time. The arrest adds to a history of public controversies and prior legal disputes, including a settled lawsuit brought by an ex-girlfriend that alleged physical and emotional abuse.
What’s next
Local businesses say they will continue to monitor guest behavior during the festival season, and law enforcement officials note that charges will be processed through the normal course of the criminal system. The actor’s next scheduled hearing will address the battery charges later in March, and further developments are expected as the case proceeds through local court.
