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Actor Emile Hirsch accused of choking Paramount exec during Sundance

Posted at 5:27 PM, Feb 12, 2015
and last updated 2015-02-12 19:39:59-05

PARK CITY, Utah – Actor Emile Hirsch is facing a felony assault charge and a misdemeanor charge relating to intoxication after he allegedly assaulted and choked a woman at a nightclub in Park City on January 25, and the victim is reportedly the Vice President of Digital Entertainment at Paramount Pictures.

According to court documents filed Thursday, 29-year-old Emile Davenport Hirsch faces one count of aggravated assault as a third-degree felony and one count of intoxication as a class C misdemeanor. Hirsch’s credits include the films, “Into The Wild”, “The Girl Next Door”, “Milk”, “Lone Survivor” and “Speed Racer”.

The document states that on January 25 around 3:52 a.m. Park City Police Department officers responded to call at TAO Nightclub on Main Street. Police met with a woman, identified in the document as Daniele Bernfeld, who said she was assaulted, and police later identified the alleged attacker as Hirsch. Bernfeld is listed as the VP of Digital Entertainment for Paramount Pictures.

The woman said that at about 3:15 a.m. Hirsch approached her and appeared intoxicated, she said the man asked her why she looked “so tough” and said she was a “rich kid” who should not be at the Sundance Film Festival, according to a court document. The woman said she pushed Hirsch away and that he then left with friends.

Shortly after, the woman alleges Hirsch came up behind her and wrapped his arm around her to put her in a choke-hold. Hirsch allegedly pulled the victim across the table and onto the floor, where he landed on top of her. The victim said that when Hirsch was on top of her he wrapped his hands around her neck. She said she felt like the front and back of her throat was touching and she remembers things going dark. She reports she may have blacked out.

Bystanders pulled Hirsch off the woman, and a witness at the next table corroborated the details of the victim’s report. Police observed a red mark on the victim’s neck and upper chest when they spoke with her.

The document states Hirsch waived his Miranda rights and spoke with a police sergeant. Hirsch told the officer he did not know the woman but was in a “verbal confrontation” with her. He admitted to consuming three or four alcoholic beverages. The officer observed the odor of alcohol and said the man had trouble balancing and was slurring some of his words.

The documents were filed in the Third District Court for Summit County. Police tell FOX 13 News Hirsch was not booked into jail after the incident but was given a citation.