Report: Nicolas Cage Back to Work After Arrest

April 18, 2011— -- Nicolas Cage reportedly went right back to work on his latest film "Medallion" after his arrest over the weekend. The return to the movie set on Monday follows a weekend scene that could have been plucked out of Cage's Academy Award winning role in "Leaving Las Vegas." The actor was arrested in New Orleans for domestic abuse, disturbing the peace and public drunkenness.

According to police, Cage was heavily intoxicated and violent, arguing with his wife, Alice Kim, in a tattoo parlor and on the street, and pushing her. Later, he punched a few cars.

"He was running around and screaming in the street," a bartender at Harry's Corner in New Orleans, told People magazine.

The couple were fighting over which house they were renting in the French Quarter while Cage is in town filming new movie "The Medallion."

"Apparently he had mistaken the house of my neighbors for the other house up the block that he is actually renting," Peter Bennett, a local street performer who lives near the property, told People. "His wife was trying to persuade him from disturbing the elderly couple who do in fact live in that house."

Cage was actually renting the house three doors down.

When the police arrived, Cage started to get into the back of the police car then took off running toward the river, according to People. Police found him trying to get into a cab.

Longtime Hollywood publicist, who does not represent Cage, told GMA that Cage taunted police, saying "Go ahead, arrest me."

"They tried to send him home," Bragman said. "Then, finally, they did arrest him," Bragman said.

Kim has denied that Cage abused her and has declined to press charges.

An inmate who said he was in the holding area of the jail with the actor, told People, "He was drunk."

But he spent the evening chatting with sheriff's deputies instead of behind bars, according to the inmate. "He wasn't in a cell. He was behind the counter with all the other officers," he said.

In what sounds like one of Cage's post-Oscar flops, reality star Duane "Dog the Bounty Hunter" Chapman came to the financially strapped star's rescue, posting the $11,000 bond.

In a statement to E! News, Chapman said he bailed out Cage because, "I am a truly dedicated fan of Mr. Cage."

"I performed my duties as a bail bondsman and not in connection with our show. This is what I do for a living," he said. "There are two sides of my job: I release my clients after they have been arrested; and pick them up if they don't show up in court. I do not believe the latter will be the case for Mr. Cage."

Cage has been ordered to return to court on May 31.

Here's a look at Nicolas Cage's off-screen troubles.

1. Off-Screen/On-Screen Rage

In Dec. 2010, Cage, who is known for flying off the handle in performances in films such as "Moonstruck" and his Oscar nominated role in "Adaptation" made news for an off-screen meltdown.

While leaving a night club in Romania where he was promoting "Ghost Rider," the actor was filmed exploding into a rage during an altercation with a companion.

Cage was taped screaming: "I thought we were brothers, man," and "I'll die in the name of honor."

2. Financial Follies

Despite being one of Hollywood's highest paid actors, Cage has had an avalanche of financial problems in the last few years.

After reportedly purchasing castles, islands, homes, a dinosaur skull, cars and boats, the actor hit the skids.

In late 2009, the federal government placed a tax lien on Cage's real-estate holdings, including an additional $6.7 million from 2008, according to reports.

Cage has admitted to owning the IRS a total of $14 million and has said that he is taking steps to repay the IRS, starting with switching business managers.

"Everybody makes mistakes. Its part of being human," Cage said on "Good Morning America" recently. "Some people say you have to be a sinner before you can be a saint," Cage said.

Weston Coppola Cage and Nicolas Cage seen in this Oct. 26, 2008 file photo in West Hollywood, Calif.

Set in New Orleans post Hurricane Katrina, the story focuses on a child who puts a voodoo curse on his soul before he is murdered by secessionist soldier

7. We Have Cage to Thank for "The Goddesses"?

Cage has recently been featured in Charlie Sheen's "My Violent Torpedo of Truth/Defeat is Not an Option" tour.

According to Sheen, Cage once helped him smuggle cocaine onto a plane and came up with the term "goddess." During his show in Columbus, Ohio Sheen said: "We're at this after-party and Nic Cage is over at the corner and he's showing a girl his watch," Sheen explained. "It was dark, but I knew exactly what he was doing. He has his wrist down here (Sheen brings wrist down to his crotch). So she just kind of pokes him in the chest and walks away. And his response was 'Well there goes a goddess, an absolute f***ing goddess.'"

Cage hasn't commented on the performance.