Holy Disrespect, Batman! Christian Bale Arrested for Assaulting Mother

According to the Associated Press, Christian Bale, the 34-year-old actor who plays Batman in the latest incarnation of that role in "The Dark Knight," has been arrested in London on charges of suspicion of assaulting his mother and sister. The altercation apparently occurred on Sunday before the European premiere of the newest Batman movie. Christian Bale was held for four hours, questioned, and released on bail.

British media has reported that Christian Bale's mother and sister alleged that Bale assaulted them at the Dorchester Hotel on Sunday night. A police spokesperson, speaking anonymously, refused to give Bale's name, but issued this statement: "A 34-year-old man attended a central London police station this morning by appointment and was arrested in connection with an allegation of assault." A later statement issued by police maintained that the questioned man was released pending further investigation and would return in September.

Thus far, there has been no comment from Bale's mother or sister.

News of this domestic dispute comes right on the heels of "The Dark Knight" opening to a record box-office weekend draw of $158.4 million dollars in the United States. The European premiere occurred Monday night with Bale present. Police sources state that Bale was allowed to attend because he was not officially charged with a crime and allegations were not enough to keep him from his obligations.

But Christian Bale isn't the only celebrity to make the news for domestic disturbances in the past few months.

Brian Bonsall, former child star of the hit show "Family Ties", was arrested in July for violating his probation stemming from domestic violence charges he was convicted of in March, 2007, when he poured alcohol in the face of his sleeping girlfriend. Bonsall, who played Michael J. Fox's younger brother, "Andy Keaton," on "Family Ties", was aarrested in Colorado on failure to pay for domestic violence classes, submit to a daily breathalyzer test and submitting a positive breath test.