LOS ANGELES -- Expatriate Polish filmmaker Zbigniew Rybczynaki, who won an Oscar for best short film for 'Tango,' was jailed Tuesday on charges he assaulted two security officers during the awards presentation.
Rybczynaki, 34, refused to be led from the stage after his acceptance speech Monday night, holding the award high as he said, 'We share this award with Lech Walesa and Solidarity.'
He finally left the stage unescorted as actor Matt Dillon, who earlier tried to coax the winner off stage, scratched his head.
Sheriff's spokesman Ward Finch said Rybczynaki was standing outside the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion about 8:30 p.m. PST after receiving his Oscar when he got into a scuffle with a private security guard. The filmmaker kicked the guard in the groin, Finch said, and a sheriff's sergeant rushed to his aid.
Rybczynaki kicked the sergeant in the groin before being subdued and taken to jail. He was booked for battery and battery on a peace officer and was released Tuesday on $1,000 bail.
Finch said the two officers were not hurt, 'just in a lot of pain.'
Finch said it was not known what provoked the incident or whether Rybczynaki was intoxicated. He said the filmmaker did not have his Oscar at the time he was arrested.
Backstage Monday night before the incident the Pole said he wants to make a movie based on the life of Walesa, the former head of the banned union Solidarity.
'I hope my next film will be on Lech Walesa and Solidarity, and that I will be here next year for that film,' Rybczynaki said. 'It is impossible now to make the film, but I hope to make it when Poland is semi-free.'
