One Direction singer Louis Tomlinson arrested after alleged altercation at LAX

One Direction singer Louis Tomlinson was arrested Friday night after he allegedly dragged a photographer to the ground and then went after a woman taking cellphone video at Los Angeles International Airport, authorities said.

Tomlinson, 25, was arrested on a charge of simple battery and released after posting bond of $20,000 early Saturday morning, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Inmate Information Center.

Tomlinson was with a female companion when the altercation occurred at the Terminal 4 baggage claim around 8:25 p.m., LAX police said in a statement.

The singer pulled the photographer, causing him to fall backward and strike his head on the floor, witnesses told police.

Tomlinson also attempted to take a cellphone away from a woman who was recording his companion, authorities said.

The singer grabbed the woman by the waist, causing her to also fall to the floor, police said. The woman was also struck in the eye during the incident.

Martin Singer, Tomlinson’s legal representative, issued the following statement: “The paparazzi provoked and caused the altercation that occurred with Louis at the airport this morning…. While the altercation was going on with the paparazzi, three other individuals were attacking his girlfriend during this incident and he came to her defense.”

Radar Online posted video that claims to show the incident.

The photographer was taken to a hospital for treatment, and the woman taking the cellphone video was treated at the scene, police said. Both filed citizen’s arrest statements.

Tomlinson has a scheduled March 29 court date.

dakota.smith@latimes.com

Twitter: @dakotacdsmith

UPDATES:

3:35 p.m.: This article was updated with a statement from Tomlinson’s legal representative.

This story was originally posted at 2:30 p.m.