Bartender not pursuing charges against Cuba Gooding Jr.

Cuba Gooding Jr. arrives at the premiere of "The Amazing Spider-Man" on June 28, 2012, in Westwood, Calif.

/ Getty

(CBS/AP) A bartender who claimed that actor Cuba Gooding Jr. pushed her doesn't plan to pursue criminal charges against him, managers at a New Orleans bar said Wednesday.

On Tuesday, police issued an arrest warrant on a misdemeanor charge of municipal battery for the 44-year-old Oscar-winner. Police say the bartender at the century-old Old Absinthe House told them that Gooding became upset after patrons started asking him to pose for photos with them at about 3 a.m. The bartender told investigators that Gooding pushed her after she asked him to calm down and again after she told him he should leave and that police had been called.

Gooding left the bar before police arrived and he met Wednesday morning with New Orleans police and was issued a court summons. However, in a statement to The Associated Press, the French Quarter bar said its employee wouldn't press the case.

"It is our understanding the employee involved in the alleged altercation has chosen to drop all charges against Mr. Cuba Gooding Jr.," said Old Absinthe House spokeswoman Carolyn Pierce. "While we continue to investigate this matter internally, we are hopeful that this will put an end to the matter."

"The witness indeed has indicated that she is likely to drop the charges," said Ryan Berni, a city spokesman. "If she does, and after prosecutors review the evidence, a determination will be made as to whether to dismiss the charges."

Berni said Gooding's arraignment is set for Friday. It was not immediately known whether he was required to appear.

Calls to Gooding's attorney were not immediately returned, but his publicist, Nancy Kane, told the AP that "Mr. Gooding, his representative and the New Orleans authorities ... are moving swiftly to resolve this misunderstanding."

New Orleans police spokeswoman Remi Braden said the arrest warrant was lifted after the summons was issued.

The city's municipal court had not yet received documents regarding Gooding's summons, but they were expected to be delivered by the end of the week. Once the summons is processed, the bartender can officially drop the charges, a court employee said.

Gooding won an Academy Award for best supporting actor for his role in the 1996 film "Jerry Maguire." His other film credits include "A Few Good Men," "Rat Race," "As Good as it Gets," "American Gangster" and "Red Tails."

He has been in New Orleans filming "The Butler," a movie about a White House butler who served eight American presidents. The film has a star-studded cast that includes Nicole Kidman, Liam Neeson, John Cusack, Jane Fonda, Robin Williams, Forest Whitaker, Alex Pettyfer and Minka Kelly.

"The Butler" is being directed by Lee Daniels ("Precious" and "Monster's Ball").

[LoriBW]

His mistake was going to Bourbon St. which is almost exclusively patronized by tourists. New Orleans locals are used to seeing celebrities and for the most part are cool about it.

[ReckonedTruth]

What the bartender should hav done was to speak to the person who wanted to take the picture of Mr. GOODING.. not get upset with Mr. Gooding..Mr. Gooding has every right as anyone else with regard to one's picture NOT being taken.. it seems the person with the camera was the problem..NOT Mr. Gooding..

..the bartender should and will drop the misdemeanor charges..

..and I'm certain Mr. Gooding's lawyers spoke to the establishment bar owner..and didn't have to PAY a DIME..

..this was something STUPID and lack of intelligence upon losing control as result of the bartender ..especially if Mr. Gooding felt threaten..he had every right to push some-one out of his space..

..if anyone stands within 12-inches of anyone in a threatening posture/motion.. gives that person the right to protect ones-shelf..

The bartender should have asked the patron with the camera to honor Mr. Gooding's request(take no pictures)..or leave..

[bjmou]

wow...another entitled star. they craved that attention when they started out , now they think they're too good for the fans that made them what they are..

[ralphing]

She dropped the charges after he showed her the money!!!!!!