MEATPACKING DISTRICT — A high-profile jewelry designer and nephew of the founder of famous French fashion house Givenchy was arrested over the weekend for punching a policeman in the face after refusing to get out of his Mercedes — which was sitting on the back of a NYPD tow truck, police said.
Taffin jewelry bigwig James de Givenchy, 50, a former creative director for Sotheby's Diamonds, got into the parking dispute after returning to his black Benz SUV outside of the Valbella Italian restaurant at 421 W. 13th St. about 2 a.m. on Saturday, police said.
His wife, Gina de Givenchy, 46, was also arrested after she tried to stop officers from collaring her husband, police said.
Givenchy's baubles have been featured at Sotheby's and Christie's and he was once called "the James Bond of the jewelry world" by Vogue.
Police said de Givenchy's car had been illegally parked, and when an NYPD traffic officer towed it, the angry designer hopped onto the back of the tow truck and got into his Mercedes.
A sergeant from the Sixth Precinct tried to get de Givenchy, out of the vehicle, but he refused, forcing the sergeant to pull him out of the car, according to the NYPD.
de Givenchy got into a "fighting stance" on the sidewalk, the NYPD said, and the sergeant pointed a Taser at him, warning him to get down. The officer fired the Taser, but missed de Givenchy, who then punched him in the face, police said.
A second officer came to help the sergeant, and the pair sprayed Mace at de Givenchy and managed to subdue and arrest him, the NYPD said.
When Gina de Givenchy tried to stop the arrest, grabbing the officer's arm and attempting to pull him off of her husband, police arrested her as well, the NYPD said.
The couple is a fixture of the socialite circuit and their Upper East Side apartment was once featured in T Magazine.
Authorities charged James de Givenchy with assaulting an officer and resisting arrest. He paid his $2,500 bail and was released, according to court records.
Gina de Givenchy was charged with obstructing governmental administration, a misdemeanor charge, records show.
A lawyer for the couple could not be reached for comment. Staff at de Givenchy's office could not immediately comment.
