Kanye West has a date with a judge. The rapper was charged today with misdemeanor battery and attempted grand theft over his run-in with a paparazzo at Los Angeles International Airport on July 19. West is accused of knocking photographer Daniel Ramos to the ground and trying to wrestle his camera away from him after the shutterbug attempted to snap his picture on his way out of the airport. Arraignment has been set for Oct. 10 at the Airport Branch Courthouse. The L.A. County District Attorney’s Office opted not to press charges against West, citing a lack of “significant injury,” but the case was passed to the L.A. City Attorney’s Office. Ramos has also filed a lawsuit against West, alleging assault, battery and negligence. He claims that, while hanging onto his camera, he fell to his knees “with enough force that he sustained injuries to his right hip, as well as accompanying pain and emotional distress.” “We are very gratified to learn today that the L.A. City Attorney has chosen to criminally charge Kanye West with one count of battery and one count of attempted grand theft as a result of his unjustified attack on our client who is a photographer and who was the victim of Mr. West’s attack,” Ramos’ attorney, Gloria Allred, said in a statement. “Celebrities should be held to the same standards as anyone else and we are very gratified that the LA City Attorney is not intimidated by Mr. West’s fame and fortune.” West’s camp has not yet responded to a request for comment, but his attorney had previously told authorities that the Yeesus artist was simply trying to prevent his picture from being taken. West and Kim Kardashian were spotted yesterday checking out the in-progress renovations on their L.A. home. Coincidentally, the court came calling for Kanye on the same day that Lamar Odom was officially charged with misdemeanor DUI stemming from his Aug. 31 arrest during a traffic stop.
