Comic Russell Brand is arrested over criminal damage

RUSSELL Brand has been arrested for criminal damage by US police.The controversial comic was detained “without incident” in New Orleans on Thursday and released shortly afterwards after posting bail, police said.

Police had issued a warrant on a charge of simple criminal damage to property valued at $700 (£445), after a photographer accused the comedian of grabbing his iPhone and throwing it through a window. Bail was set at $5,000 (£3,184). Brand, 36, is in New Orleans filming.

New Orleans police spokesman Remi Braden said: “Officers picked up Mr Brand from Harrah’s Casino, where he was working on the film. He was arrested without incident.”

Brand had claimed he took the phone as “a tribute” to Apple boss Steve Jobs who died last year. He grabbed the phone while a photographer was using it to take pictures of him on Monday and threw it away, smashing the window of an office, according to website TMZ.

Brand tweeted: “Since Steve Jobs died I cannot bear to see anyone use an iphone irreverently.”