Alec Baldwin charged with assault after allegedly punching man in face over parking dispute

Saturday Night Live actor claimed man driving station wagon took his parking spot outside New York home, according to police

Alec Baldwin has been charged with assault and harassment after allegedly punching a man in the face over a parking dispute in New York.

Police say the actor, 60, was taken into custody just before 2pm on Friday after the alleged incident outside his home in Manhattan's West Village.

He was released two hours later and later and is expected to appear in court on 26 November.

In a statement tweeted from the official Twitter account of his and wife Hilaria Baldwin's foundation, Mr Baldwin denied the allegations.

He wrote: “Normally, I would not comment on something as egregiously misstated as today's story. However, the assertion that I punched anyone over a parking spot is false. I wanted to go on the record stating as much.

”I realise that it has become a sport to tag people w as many negative charges and defaming allegations as possible for the purposes of clickbait entertainment.

“Fortunately, no matter how reverberating the echos, it doesn't make the statements true.”

Police said Mr Baldwin claimed he had a family member holding the parking spot when a man driving a station wagon pulled up and took it.

Officials say the men were arguing and pushing each other before Mr Baldwin punched the other man.

The 49-year-old station wagon driver was taken to a hospital with jaw pain.

Mr Baldwin, who won two Emmy Awards and three Golden Globes for his role as Jack Donaghy in 30 Rock, has made headlines in recent months for his portrayal of President Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live.

The part earned him the 2017 Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, and a nomination for the same gong the following year.

Additional reporting by PA