Alec Baldwin arrested for allegedly punching a man over a parking space
On Friday afternoon, Alec Baldwin was arrested after allegedly punching a man over a parking space outside of his home in lower Manhattan. According to a New York Police Department spokesman, Baldwin had someone holding the spot for him, but before he could pull his car in, somebody else took it. Reportedly Baldwin and the driver then got into an altercation, and the 60-year old actor punched the 49-year-old victim in the face.
The incident occurred at about 1:35 p.m. on East 10th Street in The Village. One witness who lives on the block, and identified himself as Albert, told Page Six, "He just got into an altercation with someone over a parking [spot]. It’s like a scene from Goodfellas." A construction worker who declined to be named also witnessed the event. He says Baldwin yelled "What do you think you’re doing!" and "Shut the f–k up!" He adds that he saw Baldwin shove the victim, but did not see the alleged punch.
Authorities say the victim went to Lenox Hill Healthplex to be examined, and was not seriously hurt. Baldwin is expected to be charged with with misdemeanor assault, and was taken to a holding cell at NYPD’s 6th Precinct in Greenwich Village. Later he was released, and said nothing to the gaggle of reporters as he left the building.
The actor is well known for his brilliant work in television comedies like 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live. However, he's also made headlines for losing his temper in outbursts that weren't so funny. In 2014, a "belligerent" Baldwin went on a profanity-filled rant, after two female police officers stopped him for cycling down the wrong street. A source told Page Six he told the cops to "go f**k themselves," and complained, "Don’t you know my taxes pay your salary? Can’t you get that around your f**king head?" Baldwin was handcuffed, taken to the station and charged with disorderly conduct, plus going the wrong way on a one-way street.
In 2013, a New York Post photographer approached Baldwin and his family, and actor reportedly blew up, calling the man a "c***sucking f****t." As a result, his television show, Up Late, did not continue on MSNBC. The network issued a statement claiming this was a mutual decision. And most famously, in 2007, a voicemail leaked, in which Baldwin called his 11-year-old daughter, Ireland a "rude, thoughtless, little pig." A decade later, the Glengarry Glen Ross star opened up about the incident to Good Morning America. "It's a scab that never heals cause it’s being picked at all the time by other people," said Baldwin. "My daughter, that’s hurt her in a permanent way.”
Baldwin is an outspoken Democrat and hilariously mocks Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live. So, you won't be surprised to learn that Republicans are feeling some serious schadenfreude after the actor's arrest. "Is anyone shocked at this piece of garbage anymore?" tweeted Donald Trump, Jr. "As if the phone calls to his daughter weren’t bad enough. He’s a lib so he gets chance after chance to be decent but always fails!" But his father only had four words. When asked about Baldwin's arrest, President Trump simply said, "I wish him luck."
That must have been one sweet parking spot!