CRISS ANGEL THREATENS TO KNOCK OUT PRODUCER

Luxor headliner Criss Angel threatened to knock out one of his magic producers during an altercation Wednesday, according to an audio recording.

Magician Joe Monti, 52, filed a police report that alleges Angel “flipped out” and assaulted him while removing Monti from Angel’s office complex at 3260 W. Sunset.

In a profanity-laced 55-second audio clip Monti provided to the Review-Journal, a voice that appears to be Angel’s is heard saying, “Get out of my place before I knock you out.”

Earlier in the clip, Angel is heard saying, “Don’t point your finger at me. Put your hand down.”

After Angel repeatedly ordered Monti to leave, noises that sound like a struggle are heard.

Monti: “Get off me. Don’t you dare touch me!”

Monti, who said he is 5-foot-5, said Angel “grabbed me and lifted me.”

“Get the (expletive) out of here now,” Angel is heard saying.

Monti: “Everything is null and void.” 

Angel: “You’ll see what happens.” Monti: “OK, And I want you to come after me with everything you have.”

Angel: “Get your attorneys and show me the bruises that you have.”

Monti, in an interview after meeting with police, said he recorded the meeting because of Angel’s history of bullying employees and “I wanted him to know how demeaning he was.”

Monti said he has known Angel since the mid-1980s and produced magic during several “Mindfreak” seasons. “I created 50-60 percent of the magic for ‘Mindfreak,’” he said.

“I have no reason to do anything vindictively but I draw the line on violence,” he added.

Monti, a member of Angel’s team for almost five years, said he was evicted from his Luxor room about six hours after the incident.

Angel did not respond to a request for comment. His show opened at Luxor in October 2008.