Shia LaBeouf has been arrested and charged after an incident that took place during a New York theatre production of Cabaret. The 28 year-old actor has been charged with criminal conduct and disorderly conduct and taken into custody after causing a disturbance during the Studio 54 show.

Specific details regarding LaBeouf's behaviour have been disclosed, such as smoking in the theatre, refusing to stop, and swearing loudly. LaBeouf was escorted out of the premises by police after refusing to leave when asked to do so by security guards, confirmed NYPD spokesman George Tsourovakas.

"He was being rather difficult and combative, verbally...to the point where security guards asked him to please leave the premises and he refused," Tsourovakas said. "Police were called and he was detained and arrested."

Witnesses have added to our understanding of the scene, describing the actor's appearance as that of a "bum." Witness Tina Marie Miller speaking to CBS said "Honestly, I wasn't thinking of drunk or drugs. I was thinking he was working on a role, because it was that extreme. If we didn't know who he was, we'd assume he was a bum, literally, from how he looked and how he was acting."

Two theatregoers described seeing LaBeouf in a ripped shirt a block away from the theate before the show. They said LaBeouf was chasing after a man who appeared to be homeless before stumbling inside the theatre, heading to the bar in the bar, and feeding a woman a strawberry from her own plate.

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Meanwhile, Composer Benj Pasek tweeted "Just saw Shia LaBeouf in handcuffs in tears surrounded by 6 police officers outside of CABARET the musical." The theatre confirmed the incident, but said simply that the actor had been "disruptive during act one and escorted out of Studio 54 at intermission."

More: Shia LaBeouf - his five weirdest moments.

The incident is the latest in a recent string of negative or puzzling press attributed to the former child star, including his bizarre behaviour during the promotion of Nymphomaniac, a clash involving plagiarising graphic artist Daniel Clowes and a strange performance art project in LA.

Shia LaBeouf has not commented publically on the reported incident.

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