“Transformers” star Shia ignored subpoena for violating smoking ban

By Matthew B. Zeidman

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 3/19/08 – Indiana Jones may have to crack the whip at the young co-star of its fourth installment, cause the police sure are. Police were given orders on Tuesday to arrest Shia LaBeouf, but not for drunk driving, drug use or any other infraction common to his celebrity peers. It seems the 21-year-old “Transformers” star was due to appear in court yesterday for allegedly violating a smoking ban, but he and his legal team were both no-shows, prompting a judge to issue a bench warrant against the popular actor.

LaBeouf was originally cited for smoking outside a Burbank, Calif. gift shop on Feb. 18, in violation of the city’s anti-smoking ordinance, which has been in effect since May 2007. According to the law, public smoking in the downtown section of the city may only be done in designated areas, and LaBeouf was allegedly not in a designated area when he lit up. All ticketed violators of the law are required to appear in court to answer the charges against them.

This is the latest in bizarre legal troubles for the young star, who was arrested for refusing a security guard’s orders to leave a Chicago Walgreens back in November while purportedly inebriated. The drugstore chain decided to dismiss the misdemeanor trespassing charges against LaBeouf.

LaBeouf first became known to TV audiences in 2000, when he played the annoying younger brother on the Disney Channel series “Even Stevens,” which ended its run in 2003. He had a banner year in 2007, starring in the live-action movie adaptation of the popular “Transformers” cartoon series, as well as the gory thriller “Disturbia” and the animated mockumentary “Surf’s Up.” He can next be seen in the long-awaited “Indiana Jones” sequel, “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” which comes out May 22.