Faizon Love, the actor and stand-up comic best known for roles in Friday and Elf, was arrested Tuesday in Hillsborough County and booked into a Tampa jail on contempt-of-court charges that appear tied to a family paternity matter. The 58-year-old performer was processed at the county lockup and photographed for a mug shot, marking the latest legal headache in a career that has seen its share of courtroom drama.
According to TMZ, booking records show Love was taken into custody on June 16 and booked into a Tampa jail on two contempt-of-court counts. The outlet reports the arrest appears connected to a paternity case and published the mug shot it obtained from county records. TMZ added that attempts to reach Love's representatives had not been returned as of the story's posting.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office runs the county’s central booking at the Orient Road Jail, the primary intake facility for adult arrestees, and lists its address as 1201 Orient Road in Tampa. The facility processes new arrests before cases are forwarded to the clerk for docketing, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
Love's recent legal history
Love has faced other legal scrutiny in recent years, including a San Diego lawsuit that alleges he hurled a credit-card terminal at a hotel clerk. The Los Angeles Times reviewed the complaint and the related criminal filing. That reporting noted prosecutors had pursued charges in San Diego and that litigation and criminal processes were still active last year.
This is not Love’s first arrest. In 2017 he was taken into custody at John Glenn Columbus International Airport after an altercation with a valet, a case captured on surveillance video. He later received a 180-day suspended sentence in that matter, earlier coverage shows. The 2017 incident was reported at the time by TMZ.
What contempt charges can carry in Florida
Contempt in Florida can be civil, typically used to force compliance in family and paternity disputes, or criminal, which is punitive. When no specific statutory penalty applies, state law limits punishments for common-law offenses to no more than 12 months in jail and a $500 fine, and courts have discretion depending on the nature of the contempt, per Florida statutes.
Official case details, including the precise counts, case number and any scheduled hearings, will be reflected in county court dockets and on the sheriff’s booking pages. Those public records are the best sources for confirmation and updates. We will monitor the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court and the sheriff’s booking system for any filings or scheduled court dates, per the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
