Mike Tyson Faces Jail Time for Punching Paparazzi Reporter
Says the Arizona Sheriff, who manages Tent City jail in Maricopa County,
“Mike Tyson has served time in the Tents before and if he is violated on the terms of his probation here in Arizona, he better get his jail time done while the weather in Phoenix is cool and not 140 degrees in the summer time.”
Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson assaulted a paparazzi photographer for which he was arrested at the Los Angeles’ LAX airport. The photographer approached Tyson who was accompanied by his wife and daughter and insisted for their photographs. When the photographer got aggressive and hit Tyson, he struck the man in order to defend his family, which was Tyson’s version given to the police. On the other hand, the photographer stated that when he approached the former boxer, he struck him in his face and he had to struggle to keep back the camera from being taken away.
Not-so-shocking news when Mike Tyson is involved, the scuffle took place in the Terminal 7 of the LAX airport of Los Angeles. Photographer Tony Echevarria was assaulted by Mike Tyson when he was approached for photographs. Tyson was arrested and released on a bond of $20,000. With differing versions to the story, the media have retorted back on Tyson who is famous for his outrageous public behavior. The photographer Tony had to be treated for a cut to his forehead. Mike’s spokeswoman defended the former boxer by saying that the act was in defense of his family from an overly aggressive paparazzo. While the photographer maintained that he was not aggressive or disrespectful, it is hard to point who the real victim is.
Michael Gerard “Mike” Tyson, a retired American boxer is the former heavyweight champion and still holds the record books for being the youngest man to win the WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles. He achieved the feat at just 20 years of age when he defeated Trevor Berbick. The ferocious and intimidating boxing style of Tyson was well known throughout his career. In addition to this, his controversial behavior both inside and outside the ring was of much concern.
It is not that Tyson has not been involved in a crime before this incident. During his growing up years in Brownsville, he lived in and around high crime neighborhoods. He himself had been arrested several times during his teenage for petty crimes and fighting. In the year 1991 he was convicted for the rape of Desiree Washington an 18 year old who was Miss Black Rhode Island. In the particular case his hostile behavior and his brutish and arrogant comments made the jury sentence him to 10 years of imprisonment. He again had a brush with the law enforcement agencies when he was arrested for drug possession in the year 2007 and he was convicted to 24 hours in jail, 360 hours of community service and 3 years probation.
The latest incident involving the paparazzi photographer again puts a question mark as to Tyson’s behavior in public. But here it is difficult to imagine who was at fault really. The photographer who pressed too much for photographs or a father and husband who defends his family against an overly aggressive media person? However, regardless of who was at fault, both men want to press charges for misdemeanor battery and the police are trying to arrest the photographer once he is out of the hospital.