Shia LaBeouf Spirals in Heated Encounter With Cops in New Orleans

Shia LaBeouf went ballistic on cops outside his New Orleans home early Friday morning … and the wild encounter is all caught on video.

In footage obtained by TMZ, Shia is animatedly explaining something to cops about a car. While it’s unclear exactly what he’s saying … at one point, he lifts his shirt and seems to make the sign of the cross.

He then directs the cops to look at a security camera on his house, and shows them his phone … saying, “You gotta understand who I am. I’m a target,” adding he’s an “easy target.”

Then things escalate … Shia begins pacing back and forth, growing increasingly agitated and eventually yelling, “I have a f***ing three-year-old!” He then brings up recent legal troubles, shouting he’s been “sitting in jail for f***ing four months for punching a man.”

He keeps getting more frantic … continuing to scream at officers, repeatedly saying he doesn’t trust them.

The video then cuts to Shia sitting in the street, clearly distraught … yelling at someone off-camera — seemingly an officer — “What are you talking about?! That’s why I never call you,” before letting out another loud scream and breaking down in tears.

Moments later, cops drive off … leaving Shia alone, still emotional.

You’ll recall … Shia was arrested and charged with battery last month after allegedly shouting homophobic slurs and striking multiple people outside a New Orleans bar during Mardi Gras.