Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Joel Madden Accused Of Battery By Paparazzi

A female photographer has recently accused Good Charlotte frontman Joel Madden of battery charges, according to police reports.

“A woman came in yesterday and filed a complaint,” Lt. Mitch McCann of the Beverly Hills Police Department said Tuesday. “She claims Mr. Madden hit her with the heel of his hand. He allegedly made forcible contact.”

TMZ first reported the alleged incident, which happened outside the popular Beverly Hills eatery Mr. Chow’s on Sunday.

The confrontation is said to have occurred over the weekend, after Madden challenged the photogapher when she attempted to take his picture.

She said that Madden had swung his arm and hit her left breast “with the heel of his hand.” She had to see a doctor for treatment afterwards and said the blow had left a mark, according to SAWF sources.

Madden, who dated Hilary Duff before his current relationship with Nicole Richie, has had run-ins with the paparazzi before. The rocker was previously caught on video throwing a punch at one of the shutterbugs outside of another Beverly Hills restaurant.

The police have made note that they take all claims very seriously. Meanwhile, Madden’s representatives have not commented on the situation.