De Niro's Driver Pepper Sprays Paparazzi

Did actor Roberto De Niro have his driver do his dirty work for him? According to the NY Post, his driver Vladimir Labissiere pepper sprayed a TMZ videographer earlier today at LaGuardia Airport after he had filmed the actor. This took place just before 11 a.m. in the Delta Terminal, but reportedly De Niro had already passed security and didn't witness the incident, which began with some verbal sparring. Labissiere managed to hit not only his target with a dose of the spray, but a passerby as well; he fled the scene immediately and the NYPD are trying to track him down to question him about the incident... which we assume is all on tape and will be hitting TMZ any minute now.

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By Jen Carlson in News on March 25, 2010 3:15 PM

Comments [rss]

longacre

They don't deserve privacy in public places. Diana's death was her own driver's fault. No reason to drive like a jackass unless people are following you with guns, not cameras.

That said, TMZ is the scummiest of the scum and I wouldn't be surprised if the guy did say or do something to deserve an ass kicking. Why would are they paying someone for a photo of Robert DeNiro at the airport in the first place? How many views is that going to get?

potsmoker

whoops pepper spray is illegal...lets see how the nypd handles this.

youngpro

whoops, no it's not.

potsmoker

it used to be, however its limited

New York State Penal Law

Exemption of Weapons Law §265.

Sale of "self-defense spray device"

Section §265.20

14. Possession in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph of a self-defense spray device as defined herein for the protection of a person or property and use of such self-defense spray device under circumstances which would justify the use of physical force.

whoops, read the law...

http://selfdefenses.com/forcespray/SD-law.html

youngpro

woops...it's still not....and listen to lawyer who knows more than a clueless commenter.

jaycjay

Don't forget, Mr. "Lawyer", the Administrative Code of the City of New York:

"It shall be unlawful for any person to manufacture, sell or offer for sale, possess or use, or attempt to use, any lachrymating, asphyxiating, incapacitating or deleterious gas or gases, or liquid or liquids, or chemical or chemicals, without a permit issued by the police commissioner..."

http://law.onecle.com/new-york/new-york-city-administrative-code/ADC010-131_10-131.html