Update

Kanye West Arrested for Vandalism at L.A. Airport

By Ken Lee

UPDATED 09/11/2008 at 04:10 PM EDT • Originally published 09/11/2008 at 12:00 PM EDT

Kanye West was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport Thursday morning after allegedly damaging a photographer's camera.

"Mr. West was arrested at 7:51 a.m. outside the passenger screening area by airport police on charges of vandalism," said LAX spokesman Marshall Lowe. "Initial reports say this incident involved a paparazzo and a camera valued at more than $10,000."

"In addition, Mr. West's [road manager] was arrested for vandalism and battery," Lowe said. "Several witnesses are being interviewed by police. West and his bodyguard are being transported to an LAPD station where they're expected to be booked."

A TMZ.com video cameraman who was also on the scene reports that when West, 31, noticed that he was being photographed, he "rushed the photog and grabbed his camera...threw it to the ground, breaking it into pieces," according to the Web site.

The TMZ.com cameraman, who was taping the events, says he was then approached by the road manager, who "grabbed [his] camera, ripped off the mic and viewfinder and smashed it to the ground."

West was released from custody at 12:53 p.m. after posting $20,000 bail, police records show.

A court date was set for Oct. 2. A rep for the rapper had no comment.

• With reporting by TIFFANY McGEE

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