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LOS ANGELES - A bodyguard for Britney Spears has been cited by police in Las Vegas on a charge of battery stemming from a scuffle with two photographers who approached the pop star.
The altercation occurred yesterday at the Wynn Hotel & Casino when one of the photographers reportedly bumped into the bodyguard, Julio Camera, while Camera was holding one of Spears' two sons in his arms.
According to a vaguely worded police news release, the incident started when one of the photographers "was attempting to take pictures of Ms. Spears."
"It was alleged that during the altercation the photographer was battered by Mr. Camera," the police statement said, adding the photographer "received minor abrasions" and that Camera was issued a citation for misdemeanour battery.
Spears, in turn, filed a report alleging Camera and her child, who was being held by the bodyguard at the time, were themselves "battered" by the second photographer, the police statement said.
Neither photographer was cited, but the incident remains under investigation by police, Las Vegas police Sgt. John Loretto told Reuters.
Loretto declined to give further details of the incident, other than to say neither Spears nor her children were hurt in the scuffle.
People magazine's website and other news outlets reported that one of the paparazzi had bumped into Camera while he held Spears' 22-month-old son, Sean Preston. Her younger son, 10-month-old Jayden James, was also reportedly with his mother at the time.
The People account, citing the official police report, said, "Spears screamed in fear of her children's safety," and Camera handed Sean to his mother before punching the photographer.
Spears' trip to Las Vegas came days after she made headlines in the tabloid press with reports of erratic behaviour during a photo shoot for celebrity-friendly OK! Magazine.
The OK! photo spread and interview were arranged by Spears in a bid to relaunch her career following months of negative publicity surrounding her self-shaven head, a stint in rehab, a messy divorce and a brief nightclub tour that fell flat.
People magazine also reported her trip to Las Vegas with her two sons could pose problems in any custody battle with her ex-husband Kevin Federline, whom she failed to notify of her out-of-state trip with the boys.
- REUTERS
