Mel Gibson 'booked, released from LA jail'

Mel Gibson has been booked and subsequently released from an El Segundo, CA police department, it has been reported.

Gibson's filing is the first step in a plea deal designed to resolve a misdemeanour battery charge that stems from an alleged altercation with ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva in January 2010.

The actor arrived at the El Segundo police facility on Wednesday night in order to fulfil a requirement set by LA Superior Judge Stephanie Sautner last Friday.

While in police custody, the actor had his mug shot taken and was fingerprinted by the attending authorities.

While speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Sgt Dean Howard revealed that Gibson's stay at the El Segundo Police Department's headquarters was brief.

"He was here for a very short time," Sgt Howard said. "He was very pleasant. This is just an old case that the judge wanted him to get fingerprinted for. It isn't anything new. We did it real quick and he was out."

Under the actor's current plea agreement, Gibson is bound to perform 16 hours of community service and take part in counselling for a period of 52 weeks.

If he fulfils all the agreed-upon stipulations, the Braveheart star will be spared any jail time.

Gibson and Grigorieva are the parents to 1-year-old daughter Lucia.

Earlier this week, the actor became a grandfather for the third time when his daughter Hannah and her husband Kenny Wayne Shepherd welcomed a baby boy.