Supermodel Naomi Campbell was arrested at her Park Avenue home today and charged with assaulting her housekeeper with a mobile phone, New York City police said.
Naomi Campbell arrives at Manhattan Criminal Court to answer assault charges
Ms Campbell, who was later released, could face up to seven years in prison after she was charged with second degree assault for throwing a cell phone at housekeeper Ana Scolavino.
Police said Ms Scolavino was struck on the back of the head and opened a cut that needed four stitches.
Ms Campbell's lawyer, David Breitbart, said the maid's injury was self-inflicted. He added that Ms Scolavino had been working for Ms Campbell for two to three months and was being fired because several items were missing from the house.
Prosecutors asked the judge to order Ms Campbell to surrender her passport, but the request was denied after Mr Breitbart said the model was scheduled to fly to West Africa today to do some charity work with Nelson Mandela.
Ms Campbell was fingerprinted and photographed at a police station and arrived at Manhattan Criminal Court with her hands cuffed behind her back. "The police have been really nice. They are treating me great," she told reporters.