Justin Lazard, is an actor (he was on three episodes of Miami Vice), producer (of crap you’ve never heard of), model (questionable, although his wife was on Season 2 of Project runway), and heir to the Lazard family fortunes.
He also likes to hang out at playgrounds. Literally. He has an upcoming court date to face charges of indecent exposure and annoying or molesting a child. On July 5, 2006, he was spending a quiet evening at Library Park in Lakeport, California. According to the police report,
Lazard was allegedly sitting alone on the railing, with his genitals exposed.
Rasmussen said Lazard was told to stop but didn’t, so the officers grabbed him. Lazard allegedly resisted arrest and began fighting the officers, so Rasmussen tasered him. That gave Lazard the dubious distinction of becoming the first person to be tasered by the police department’s new tasers.
There was no evidence that Lazard was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, said Rasmussen, and he offered no explanation for his alleged behavior.
That’s one way of enjoying the fireworks and wouldn’t, by itself, be worthy of mention (although we are fascinated by the missteps of scions of “great families”). What makes it notable is that the park now has a plaque that reads as follows:
“This playground is dedicated to the children of Lakeport, CA, Creating Childhood Memories. Donate by Justin Lazard 2008.”
A grown man masturbating by the swingset I would imagine leaves indelible memories. After the jump, the strange series of events and more on Lazard’s problems with the law.
Lake County News has the story:
Borg said the playground equipment donation Lazard made to the city of Lakeport hasn’t been brought up in relation to his criminal case.
However, it’s proved to be a thorny issue for Lakeport officials, who at first didn’t realize Lazard had been arrested on the indecent exposure charge by police in 2006.
Kevin Burke, interim city manager and police chief, said that Creative Playthings, the Framingham, Mass.-based manufacturer of the playground equipment, contracted city Public Works Director Doug Grider about the donation about six months ago.
“Our public works staff did not know who the individual was,” said Burke, adding that city staff also haven’t had contact with Lazard.
However, it came to their attention sometime during the process of formally accepting the equipment that he was the source of the donation, said Burke.
“At that time it was discussed at length amongst city staff about whether or not we should accept the donation,” Burke said.
Ultimately city staff decided to accept the equipment – which came with no strings attached of any kind – because it would offer a substantial benefit to the children who use the park, he explained.
Burke said the city was aware of the potential public perception that it was an attempt by Lazard – who also is the heir to a banking fortune – to buy his way out of trouble.
However, coming from his police perspective, Burke suggested that many people accused of crimes do some kind of restitution.
Considering the sensitive nature of the the charges against Lazard, Burke said he is planning to have city public works staff remove the plaque on the equipment.
Lazard also does some interesting plaintiff work. He’s suing the resort where he was married:
Page Six: A HANDSOME heir to the Lazard Freres banking fortune has declared war on the luxury Caribbean hotel where he was married – charging that his pregnant bride was manhandled by the manager, then beaten with a baton by a vicious security guard.
“We are planning on suing. You don’t lay a hand on a pregnant lady, period. She was traumatized,” Justin Lazard, a former Calvin Klein model and actor, fumed to Page Six after his tumultuous wedding to “Project Runway” contestant Shannon Fluet.
“We spent roughly $55,000 on the wedding, but disputed a $6,000 charge for a pool party with open bar that had to be canceled due to rain,” Lazard said.
“The manager was unwilling to refund the money,” Lazard said. “When confronted by my wife and called a thief, he retaliated by saying, ‘Your wife is stupid,’ grabbing her arm and muscling her toward the door. Seeing her seven weeks pregnant and in clear danger, I punched him in the face. A scuffle ensued, and we got in our car.”
Yes, we have no BigLaw connection. But it’s Law and BigBanking (Lazard Freres is considered “the granddaddy of M&A”). Close enough for government work.
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