Flight attendant accuses actor of
assault aboard plane
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Movie actor Terrence Howard
was jailed overnight after a Continental Airlines flight
attendant accused him of assaulting her on a flight from
Toronto.
The attendant, Meredith Hughes, 23, of Lakewood,
accused Howard, who starred in ``The Best Man,'' of
grabbing her wrist and trying to push her so he could
take his daughter Heavenly, 3, to a restroom, police said.
The seat belt sign was on and Hughes was trying to coax
Howard back to his seat, according to Lt. Sharon
McKay, police spokeswoman.
Howard was charged with a misdemeanor count of
assault, she said.
Howard, raised in Cleveland, was traveling from
Toronto to Philadelphia for a vacation. In Toronto, he is
acting in ``All That Glitters'' with Mariah Carey, his
wife, Lorie, said.
Lorie Howard, who was with him, said the flight
attendant spoke to her husband in a derogatory manner
and he did not touch her.
During a layover in Cleveland, Howard was questioned
by police and jailed. His wife and three children spent
the night in a hotel.
Rufus Sims, a Cleveland lawyer who said he represents
Howard, said the actor was to be arraigned on Friday.
Howard also appeared in ``Big Momma's House,''
starring Martin Lawrence, and ``Angel Eyes,'' starring
Jennifer Lopez.