Man's Arrest in Lohan Hotel Dispute Voided: Official

Christian LaBella of Valley Village, Calif., and Lindsay Lohan filed harassment complaints with police against each other

A 25-year-old man initially arrested Sunday on an assault charge after Lindsay Lohan claimed he grabbed her in her midtown hotel room in an argument over cellphone images was freed hours later and his arrest voided when the charge could not be substantiated, law enforcement officials said.

Instead, Christian LaBella of Valley Village, Calif., and Lohan filed harassment complaints with police against each other after they were interviewed by police about their run-in, law enforcement officials said.

Lohan told detectives that she saw photos of herself on LaBella's phone, confronted him about them and took his cell. LaBella then allegedly threw her on the bed causing scratches on her hands, police sources said.

Lohan ran out of the room and down the stairs of the hotel, but at some point decided to head back upstairs to her room. Lohan told police LaBella attacked her when he saw her again, choking her, throwing her to the ground and climbing on top of her.

A friend of Lohan's who was with her at the time was able to pull LaBella off her, and Lohan pulled the fire alarm for help. LaBella took off down the stairs, but police arrived before he was able to leave the hotel and took him into custody.

Lohan refused medical attention and did not go to a hospital.

Lohan publicist Steve Honig expressed outrage that police voided LaBella's arrest on the assault charge.

"We think it's both distressing and outrageous," he said in a telephone interview. "Lindsey was assaulted and there needs to be a consequence for that."

LaBella could not be reached for comment.

According to his YouTube page, LaBella ran for president of his business fraternity at the University of San Diego and was a child actor. In police paperwork, LaBella listed his employer as Illinois Congressman John Shimkus.

"While no one from Congressman Shimkus’ office has been contacted by Mr. LaBella following his arrest, he has been an employee in the Congressman’s Washington office," a spokesman for Rep. Shimkus said in a statement Sunday. "Obviously, the Congressman does not condone his actions. As this is a legal matter for Mr. LaBella, the Congressman nor his office will make further comment.”

The weekend fracas marks the latest drama surrounding Lohan. Earlier this month, she was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of an accident after allegedly clipping a pedestrian with a borrowed Porsche outside a Chelsea club in New York City.

Last Sunday she was rushed to a New York City emergency room for a respiratory problem. The actress suffered complications due to asthma.

Lohan remains on informal probation for taking a necklace from a jewelry store without permission last year. That means she doesn't have to check in with a judge or probation officer but could face a jail term if arrested again.

Lohan recently filmed "The Canyons," an indie film written by "Less Than Zero" and "American Psycho" author Bret Easton Ellis.

Steve Tomaszewski, a spokesman for Illinois Rep. John Shimkus, confirmed Sunday afternoon that LaBella has worked for the congressman in his Washington office. Tomaszewski said no one from the Republican's office had been contacted by LaBella.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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