Quote:LAS CRUCES — Actor and comedian George Lopez has been charged with battery after an altercation at a Las Cruces Hooters last month.

Lopez will receive a criminal summons to Las Cruces Municipal Court for the misdemeanor charge. He'll either have to appear in person or hire an attorney to appear for him for his court hearing.

Video of the incident, which occurred Oct. 14 and was recorded by the alleged victim.

Lopez told police he was baited into the altercation by the alleged victim, who was making pro-Trump comments and yelling "MAGA."

Lopez, who has not been shy about his dislike for President Donald Trump, was filmed last year emptying a water bottle, simulating urination, on Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has also supported Democratic candidates, such as Texas' Beto O'Rourke and Florida's Andrew Gillum, on social media.

Lopez was in Las Cruces filming the upcoming faith-based movie “Walking with Herb." Whether he returns for court or not, Lopez will be back in the area for two El Paso comedy shows Dec. 1.

The beginning of the video Hooters video shows the alleged victim waiting for Lopez as he walks by.

"Here comes my boy George ... Jorge Lopez," the man says while filming. Lopez is then seen trying to snatch the phone and grab the back of the man's neck.

"He’s a bad-ass — look at him, he wants to fight me, he wants to fight me!" the man says in the video.

The men were quickly separated and Lopez left the restaurant.

The alleged victim and Lopez have differing stories about what happened leading up to the moment captured on video.

According to the police report obtained by the Las Cruces Sun-News, the man told police he arrived at the restaurant and noticed a group of people taking photos with Lopez. The man told police he asked Lopez for a photo. The man claims Lopez grabbed his cell phone, recorded his own genital area, deleted the video and then returned the phone.

The man told police he then returned to the waiting area by the front door. Later, the man said, he saw Lopez leaving the restaurant and that's when he started to record again, according to the police report.

Lopez told police he and the film crew went to Hooters that night "to watch the Rams game." While seated, Lopez said the alleged victim came to their table and, while recording on his cell phone, put his arms on Lopez's shoulder and said, "MAGA," referring to the Donald Trump refrain, "Make America Great Again."

Following the incident at the table at Hooters, Lopez told police the man walked to the front door and waited there until Lopez and his group finished eating and got up to leave the restaurant.

He told police he saw the man approach again, while recording on his cell phone, and that he did try to reach for the phone and stop the filming. Lopez admitted to police he grabbed the man during the encounter.