‘Elf’ actor pleads not guilty in airport assault
Comedian and Columbus resident Faizon Andre Love, probably best known for his role in the Christmas movie “Elf,” pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges that he attacked a valet over a bill at John Glenn Columbus International Airport.
The 6-foot-1, 340-pound Love was silent in Franklin County Municipal Court as a prosecutor and a defense attorney gave their accounts of the incident the day before at the airport.
Afterward, Love was freed after paying 10 percent of a $2,000 bond for assault, a first-degree misdemeanor. If convicted, he could face as many as six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
An airport security video of the incident released Wednesday shows Love, 48, talking to employees at a valet counter Tuesday afternoon when he walks over to an employee identified by police as Terrence A. Gaines II, 24, of Whitehall.
The two men appeared to have exchanged words, then Love grabbed Gaines by the back of the neck and threw him to the floor. He picked up Gaines and slammed him headfirst into the counter, then threw him to the floor again. When Gaines tried to get up, Love pushed him back to the floor. Other employees intervened as Gaines got up and threw a few punches at Love, but the two were eventually separated.
Gaines had abrasions above his left eye and on his chin, according to an airport police report.
According to the report, Love said he called the airport valet to have his truck ready for him when he arrived. He said the employee on the phone was rude. When he arrived, an argument ensued and he “grabbed the guy.”
The report said valet employees told police that Love was upset when he was told on the phone how much his bill would be. When he arrived at the counter, he wanted to know who he had talked to on the phone. The employees said Love started the physical altercation by grabbing Gaines, a fact supported by the video.
Attorney John Moore, who was assigned to represent Love at the hearing Wednesday morning, said Love told him he was trying to “back away from the situation. He was trying to get away.”
Love lives in a Downtown apartment on South 4th Street, according to court records. Moore said he didn’t know how long Love has lived here. Love gave airport police a driver’s license with a Beverly Hills, California, address. He’s scheduled to appear March 15 at Columbus Funny Bone.
Love is probably best known for his role as the Gimbel’s toy department manager in the 2003 Will Ferrell movie “Elf.” Love comically spars with Buddy the Elf (Ferrell) over whether the toy department is really the North Pole, over whether there is singing at the North Pole and over the large elf’s bizarre habits.
Love also played Shane in the 2009 movie “Couples Retreat” and was the voice of Sean “Sweet” Johnson in “Grand Theft: San Andreas,” a 2004 video game.