Justin Bieber Scores Street Cred After Fighting Paparazzi [Video]

Justin Bieber is being accused of "misdemeanor battery" by a photographer who claims he was attacked when Justin refused to be photographed on his date with Selena Gomez.

Cops were called to the scene after Justin "lost his cool", but he had already left when they showed up. The photographer complained of pain to his chest. He told police he had tried to snap pictures of Justin and Selena after they walked out of a movie theater in Calabasas.

The photographer was taken to a hospital where he was treated and released.

According to TMZ, several witnesses at the scene say after the altercation, a lawyer walked up to the photog and said he could get a lot of money out of the incident and advised the dude to call for an ambulance and file a police report.

Witnesses also say the photog had been blocking Justin's car as the singer was trying to leave.  Justin got out of the car and asked the guy to move away but he wouldn't, and a scuffle ensued.