Elf Actor Arrested On Contempt Of Court Charges

Faizon Love, an character known for his roles successful comedies for illustration Elf and Couples Retreat, was arrested successful Tampa, Florida, connected Tuesday.

The 58-year-old was booked into nan Hillsborough County jailhouse and charged pinch contempt of tribunal and criminal contempt of court, according to apprehension records.

He is being held connected nary bond.

Online tribunal records show that a warrant for Love’s apprehension was issued past period connected nan contempt of tribunal charges, relating to a kid support lawsuit making love backmost to 2019.

Love’s lawyer successful nan kid support lawsuit confirmed nan apprehension to NBC 7, but was incapable to stock immoderate specifications astir nan case.

Love played nan head of nan Gimbels section shop successful nan 2003 Christmas film, Elf, alongside Will Ferrell.

Video crippled fans whitethorn besides admit him arsenic nan sound of Sean “Sweet” Johnson successful Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

Love has faced a number of ineligible troubles successful nan past. In March 2017, Love was arrested successful Columbus, Ohio, aft an altercation pinch a valet astatine John Glenn Columbus International Airport.

Video footage appeared to show nan character grabbing nan valet by nan cervix and throwing him to nan ground. He initially pleaded not blameworthy to a misdemeanor battle complaint but later entered a no-contest plea and was fined $500, receiving a 180-day suspended jailhouse sentence.

The pursuing year, a erstwhile individual adjunct sued Love, alleging intersexual harassment. The lawsuit was later settled.

In 2022, Love was sued by different erstwhile individual assistant, who alleged that he sexually harassed her while she worked for him astatine his Gwinnett County, Georgia, home.

Love is presently facing a felony battle complaint successful San Diego, stemming from an alleged altercation pinch a edifice clerk successful August 2024.

Prosecutors allege that Love tore a in installments paper scholar from its equine and threw it astatine nan employee, striking her successful nan head. He has been charged pinch battle pinch a deadly weapon, on pinch an enhancement alleging nan unfortunate suffered awesome bodily injury. Love has pleaded not guilty, and a proceedings is presently scheduled for August this year.

A judge is expected to see adjacent period whether Love should beryllium allowed to participate a pre-trial Mental Health Diversion program, which allows eligible defendants to person curen successful lieu of incarceration. Charges are typically dismissed if participants successfully complete nan program.

During a preliminary proceeding past year, nan clerk testified that Love became angry aft being told nan edifice had nary disposable rooms contempt his preservation done a third-party booking app.

“Mr. Love was highly upset; it was zero to 1 100 existent quick,” nan female told nan court. “He was many times asking if we knew who he was.

“I past proceeded to opportunity that was enough,” nan alleged unfortunate said. “Mr. Love looked straight astatine me, pulled nan in installments paper instrumentality off, and threw it [in] my direction.”

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