(antiTainment) Actor Russell Crowe was arrested for assault and criminal possession of a weapon in New York on Monday following an altercation with a hotel concierge. Shortly after 4 a.m. the Oscar winning actor reportedly threw a telephone at the Mercer Street Hotel employee following an argument over Crowe's inability to place a call through to his wife in Australia.
Crowe was arraigned at Manhattan Criminal Court on Monday morning before being released on his recognizance. He faces a possible seven years in prison if convicted of the assault charge. The weapon charge reportedly relates to the telephone that was thrown.
Crowe denies assaulting anyone, his publicist told the TV show Extra, "After asking the front desk several times to replace a faulty phone in his room ... Crowe brought the phone down to the front desk in an effort to address the situation in person."
"Words were exchanged and Crowe wound up throwing the phone against the wall. He regrets that he lost his temper but at no time did he assault anyone."
Police said the concierge was hit in the face with the phone and suffered minor lacerations. The 28-year-old man was taken to area hospital for treatment.
Crowe is in New York publicizing his latest movie "Cinderella Man," a Ron Howard biopic about the life of boxing champ James J. Braddock, which debuted at No. 4 at the North American box office this past weekend.
Crowe is scheduled to appear in court on September 14th.
