Kanye West and his road manager, Don Crowley, were arrested on suspicion of felony vandalism Thursday morning after a violent run-in with paparazzi at Los Angeles International Airport. [View footage here.]  

Crowley, described in some reports as his bodyguard, is also suspected of committing battery during the incident near the American Airlines terminal.        

According to the Associated Press, West and Crowley were about to go through the security checkpoint shortly before 8 a.m. when they got into an altercation with a commercial photographer who had snapped two photos of the rapper.

TMZ.com reported that West grabbed the camera, valued at more than $10,000, and threw it to the ground, smashing it. A TMZ videographer was filming the incident, according to the Web site, which prompted the rapper’s road manager to grab that camera as well. After a struggle, he managed to crack the viewfinder and smash the microphone before security was able to take the camera away.       

The TMZ cameraman said security asked to see the tape he just shot. When West realized he’d been filmed, he reportedly charged at the cameraman – yelling “Gimme that f—ing tape” – before being restrained by airport security.

Los Angeles International Airport spokesman Marshall Lowe said West and Crowley were scheduled to board a flight to Honolulu, Hawaii on Thursday morning. They had not yet reached a security screening checkpoint when the altercation began.

The airport is a popular spot for the paparazzi, who frequently catch shots of Britney Spears and other celebrities arriving and leaving Los Angeles.

Charles Davis, who solicits charity donations at the airport, said he witnessed the incident, and that West was “attacked” by paparazzi, and the rapper “just defended himself.”

“I talk to him all the time,” Davis said. “He’s a very nice gentleman. Very nice. He gives good donations to help children. He’s got a good, kind heart. I’ve gotten his autograph several times. I just don’t see why he was arrested. The man just put the camera too close to his face. I don’t blame him.”

Davis said he didn’t think the camera was destroyed.

“It was just knocked out of the man’s hand,” he said.

West was released from police custody by Thursday afternoon. Blair Berk, who was retained as his attorney, said she couldn’t comment on the incident.

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