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Lohan Arrested In NYC For Allegedly Hitting Woman At Club

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Hours after actress Lindsay Lohan was arrested Thursday for allegedly hitting a woman during an argument at a Manhattan nightclub, the starlet was charged in a California crash that happened six months ago.

Lohan was arrested in New York City around 4 a.m. and charged with third-degree assault. She was given a desk appearance ticket and is scheduled to be in court on Jan. 7.

1010 WINS' Juliet Papa reports

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About four hours later, Lohan walked out of the 10th Precinct, a black jacket pulled over her head, and was ushered into a black SUV waiting outside.

The alleged incident happened at Club Avenue in Chelsea. Investigators said an argument broke out between Lohan and another woman, who sources have identified as Tiffany Eve Mitchell of West Palm Beach, Fla., CBS 2's Ann Mercogliano reported.

Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan, her face covered by a jacket, is escorted from the 10th Precinct in Manhattan after being charged with assault on Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012 (credit: CBS 2)

Lohan allegedly knocked the woman off her chair because the actress thought the woman was getting too close to her table, sources told 1010 WINS' Juliet Papa.

She then allegedly went up to the same woman at the bar, accused her of taking photos and knocked a beer out her hand, Papa reported.

That's when police said Lohan hit the woman, whose husband then called police. The victim did not need medical attention.

Late Thursday afternoon, Mitchell's husband, Wayne Stevens, told CBS 2's Sean Hennessey his wife got in the middle of an argument and the next thing she knew, Lohan was punching her.

"She's all mind-boggled right now and her cheek is a little swollen. She's pretty aggravated, you know?" Stevens said.

Her husband, who spoke with CBS 2 over the intercom at their Upper East Side apartment, claimed the attack came out of the blue.

"About five minutes later, she comes around and tells my wife, 'I need space,' or something like that, and then she just punched her," Stevens said.

Employees at the club told CBS 2's Jessica Schneider there is video of the incident inside the club and it has been given to the police. But they contend the whole encounter looked more like a slap than a punch.

Lohan's attorney, Mark Heller, issued the following statement Thursday: "Once again, Lindsay Lohan is a victim of someone trying  to capture their 15 minutes of fame. From my initial investigation, I am completely confident  that the case will be resolved favorably and Lindsay Lohan will be totally exonerated."

Also Thursday, Lohan's father, Michael Lohan, spoke of a daughter out of control, continuing a downward spiral of drugs and alcohol that has seen the Long Island native taken to court 19 times since January 2007.

"I hope to God she doesn't stay in New York. It's the wrong place for her and the wrong people are there. She's got no support system," Michael Lohan said. "I mean, to see where she was and where she is now, it's heartbreaking … heartbreaking."

In September, Lindsay Lohan was arrested near the Dream Hotel in Chelsea for allegedly clipping a pedestrian with her car. Restaurant worker Jose Rodriguez claimed Lohan had hit him with the car and then drove away, but it was never proven.

Prosecutors later dropped the charge.

She was involved in another police investigation later that month. She alleged a man had assaulted her at the W Hotel on Park Avenue South, but charges against the man were later dropped.

In October, police were called to the Lohan family home in Nassau County on a report of an argument between the starlet and her mother, Dina.

After a brief investigation, police determined the argument was only verbal and said no criminality was suspected. They left without filing any charges.

Lindsay Lohan is still on informal probation for taking a necklace from a jewelry store last year without permission. She doesn't have to check in with a probation officer or judge, but could face jail if arrested again.

The California case could trigger a probation violation.

The charges filed there Thursday morning stem from a crash in June in which Lindsay Lohan's Porsche slammed into a dump truck while she was on her way to a movie set, police said.

Among the charges, giving false information to a police officer and reckless driving. Lindsay Lohan initially claimed to be a passenger in the car, not the driver, CBS 2's Hennessey reported.

"Most likely the court is going to review the charges, have a hearing and may institute really severe probation terms. And if she violates one more of those terms, I could see her having a lengthy sentence," attorney Jeffrey Lenkov told CBS 2's Schneider.

The star's latest film,"Liz & Dick," premiered Sunday on Lifetime.

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