ROB KARDASHIAN Handcuffed And Almost Arrested...

ROB KARDASHIAN was handcuffed and almost arrested by the Miami police early Sunday morning… for playing a joke on a paparazzo.

The "DWTS" runner-up, who recently celebrated his 25th birthday in Las Vegas, was in Miami for the weekend when he ran into a bit of trouble with the cops and almost got arrested.

Rob was reportedly out with some of his pals when he saw a paparazzo taking pictures of him from across the street. According to a source, the reality star thought it would be a hoot to play a joke on the man, so he began running full-speed towards him…

…which of course freaked the photographer out, causing him to run for the hills while screaming at the top of his lungs.

TMZ reports:

"According to our sources, Rob followed the guy into a smoke shop to try and clear the air (no pun intended) but the police saw the whole thing and decided to get involved. [The] cops interviewed both Rob and the photog — even putting Rob in the back of a police car. But after Rob explained to them it was all a misunderstanding, he was released."

Lesson learned here is… never come running after a stranger.

They will think you’re attacking them.