Kanye West Pleads Not Guilty in Paparazzo Scuffle

Rapper was sued by photographer Danny Ramos who claimed he sustained several injuries from West's attack.

Kanye West pleads not guilty to two misdemeanor charges, battery and attempted grand theft, against a paparazzo. The rapper's attorney, Blair Berk, submitted the plea at the Airport courthouse on Thursday, November 7.

Represented by Gloria Allred, photographer Danny Ramos sued West in August, for an incident that happened in July. "When Kanye West attacked me, I was in complete shock," Ramos said at a news conference Wednesday. "All I had done was ask him a question. I was terrified when Kanye started to come at me. I backed up because I felt from the look in his eyes, he was going to attack me."

Ramos claimed he simply wanted to talk to West, who ignored him at first before turning towards him. "Then without provocation, Mr. West suddenly attacked Danny, punching him and attempting to wrestle Danny's camera from his hands," Allred said. The attorney added that her client fell on his knees on the sidewalk and was in great pain that he had to be taken to hospital.

West was captured on video wrestling the photographer. He was sued for assault, battery, negligence and violation of civil rights. However, the case was declined for felony prosecution after several evidence were presented and the video was reviewed. Attempted robbery charge was also dismissed since Ramos did not book the camera into evidence, therefore it is unknown whether it was damaged.

Meanwhile, West's representatives have said that the rapper was only trying to prevent the photographer from taking a picture. A pretrial hearing has been scheduled for January 23.