By johnclark
By John Clark
Reese Witherspoon dropped a few points in the race for America’s Sweetheart this weekend after she was booked for disorderly conduct following her husband’s DUI arrest, according to a Los Angeles Times report.
Sources say the Oscar-winning actress was in the passenger seat of a Ford Focus when her husband, Jim Toth, was pulled over by Atlanta police after they saw Toth driving on the wrong side of the road.
When police saw Toth, they suspected he was driving under the influence of alcohol, and promptly arrested Witherspoon’s husband, a high-powered Hollywood agent.
The night, however, was far from over for Witherspoon, who may soon have to reprise her role as the sharp attorney she portrayed in “Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde,” a harrowing tale of greed, lust, and political intrigue.
According to reports, Witherspoon was less than delighted with her husband’s troubles, and started “mouthing off” to the arresting officers.
While Toth took a field sobriety test, Witherspoon, who remained seated in the vehicle, reportedly “stated that she was a ‘U.S. citizen’ and that she was allowed to ‘stand on American ground,’” according to the police report.
As Witherspoon embarked on her soliloquy, her husband was failing a Breathalyzer test, as reports indicate that he had a blood alcohol content of .139, which is well above the legal limit.
But the night continued to devolve for the successful actress, who continued to pester officers by asking if they knew who she was. According to the police report, she told the officers they would soon “found out who I am” and would find themselves on the “national news.”
Witherspoon’s prediction proved accurate, as the police officers did find themselves part of a national news story, but the focus of the tale has been on Witherspoon’s odd behavior, not the arrest itself.
After verbally abusing the officers, Witherspoon was charged with disorderly conduct, and she and her husband were briefly jailed before they posted bond early Saturday morning, according to sources.
Sources say Witherspoon and Toth were in Atlanta to start filming for their independent movie, “The Good Lie.”
And to offer further proof that Witherspoon lives a charmed life, she reportedly flew to New York after her release from jail to see the premier of her new movie, “Mud.”
At the premiere, however, Witherspoon wisely refused to talk to reporters, who were undoubtedly curious about her adventurous weekend.
By johnclark
By John Clark
Kevin Hart, an actor and comedian known for his high energy level on stage, was arrested this week on suspicion of drunk driving in Los Angeles, according to a report from the Associated Press.
Sources say Kart was arrested for a DUI after his Mercedes almost crashed into a tanker truck on Highway 101, the famed coastal freeway that runs the length of California.
According to California Highway Patrol Officer Ed Jacobs, Hart looked drunk when police pulled him over, and he allegedly failed a field sobriety test administered by the arresting officers.
The failure to complete a field sobriety test does not necessarily spell doom in the courtroom for Hart, or any other defendant, but it certainly gave the officers enough probably cause to arrest the comedian.
Sources report that Hart posted a $5,000 bond and was released from jail Sunday after spending a few hours in police custody. He has been charged with a misdemeanor DUI, which carries a potential penalty of jail time, a fine, or a suspended license.
According to sources, Hart had a female passenger in his car at the time of the arrest. Police sent her home in a taxi after taking Hart into custody.
Officers decided to accost Hart’s car after he was driving “erratically at over 90 mph and nearly slammed into a gas tanker.”
Following the incident, Hart took an important step towards rehabilitating his public image by issuing a sincere apology on his Twitter account.
According to sources, Hart said drinking and driving is “not a laughing matter” and acknowledged that many people “have lost lives because of” similarly “stupid” actions.
The comedian, whose career took off over the past few years, admitted that his arrest was a “wake-up call” and said that he has “to be smarter” in the future.
Hart’s career breakthrough came in 2011, when he starred in his own standup special, “Laugh at My Pain.” Since then, Hart has acted in several movies, appeared in the television show “Undeclared,” and hosted “Saturday Night Live.”
And Hart can take comfort knowing that several comedians before him have been arrested for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and seen their careers continue to flourish.
Multiple DUI offenses, however, can lead to lengthy prison sentences, so Hart knows that his margin for error on the streets of Los Angeles has now been reduced to a great degree.
By Mike
All grown up now, several child and teen stars from the ’90s have been arrested for DUI. Who has more celebrity DUI arrests: boys or girls?
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Boys
- Taran Noah Smith
- Best Known for: Mark Taylor (the youngest brother), Home Improvement
- Arrested in February 2012
- Haley Joel Osment
- Best Known for: The Sixth Sense
- Arrested in August 2006
- Nick Carter
- Best Known for: Backstreet Boys
- Arrested in March 2005
Girls
- Lindsay Lohan
- Best Known for: The Parent Trap
- Arrested in May 2007
- Arrested for a second DUI in July 2007
- Amanda Bynes
- Best Known for: All That, The Amanda Show
- Arrested in April 2012
- Danielle Fishel
- Best Known for: Boy Meets World
- Arrested in December 2007
- Tracey Gold
- Best Known for: Growing Pains
By johnclark
By John Clark
In upsetting news for his fans, rapper Too Short was officially arrested for a DUI and drug possession this week in Hollywood, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times.
Sources say the 46-year-old entertainer, who was born Todd Anthony Shaw, was taken to jail around 3 a.m. after being arrested on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles.
According to sources, Too Short briefly attempted to run from police before he was captured, which is the cardinal sin of drunk driving arrests. If this report is true, Too Short could also face potential charges for resisting arrest.
Sources note that the original DUI incident happened a few weeks ago, when he was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Police also reported that Too Short had meth in the back seat of his car.
So, in addition to four misdemeanor counts of drunk driving, Too Short faces the potential of a felony drug charge, which could have posed a much more significant jail sentence.
Sources claim, however, that the city attorney is only charging Too Short with the four misdemeanor charges, because the amount of meth discovered by police wasn’t enough to warrant a felony charge.
The absence of a felony charge will simplify the rapper’s defense against the DUI charges, but four misdemeanor counts could still result in significant jail time, a suspended driver’s license, or a large fine.
And Too Short could also be facing possible punishment for a shooting on the Las Vegas Strip that ended in the death of Kenny Clutch, a rapper based in Oakland, and two other victims.
The shooting caused a fatal car crash that blocked a portion of the Las Vegas Strip for several hours and gained international media coverage.
But police have not been able to connect Too Short to the shooting and car crash, and Too Short recently dismissed the rumors of his involvement on his Facebook page, where he wrote that he had “no knowledge or connection” to the incident.
Too Short has been the target of much controversy during his career, but is widely considered to be one of the primary innovators of West Coast hip hop, according to sources.
Too Short, who was born in Los Angeles but was raised in Oakland, has released several massive singles over the past few years, including “The Ghetto,” “Burn Rubber,” and “Blow the Whistle.”
But the music success has been tempered by legal issues. In 2009, Too Short was arrested twice for drunk driving in separate incidents in Las Vegas. And in 2010, the rapper was arrested for battery after n incident following a concert in Idaho.
By johnclark
By John Clark
Singer Bobby Brown will only spend a few days in jail after being convicted of a DUI, but he will have to wear an ankle bracelet for several weeks so the court can monitor his movements, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times.
According to sources, Brown pleaded no contest to a DUI charge in February, his second such charge in 2012, and was sentenced to 55 days in jail during a hearing this week.
The county jail, however, has a surplus of inmates, so jail officials expect Brown to only spend about nine days behind bars. Upon his release, however, Brown will be outfitted with an electronic ankle bracelet, sources say.
Brown, who was also sentenced to four years of probation, will not be allowed to leave his home while he serves his jail sentence, and must also complete an alcohol treatment program that is expected to last a year and half.
The singer, who was once married to the now-deceased Whitney Houston, was initially arrested in March 2012 for driving under the influence of alcohol, sources say.
Reports indicate that police initially pulled Brown over after spotting him talking on his cellphone while driving, which is prohibited in Los Angeles and surrounding areas.
But just a few months after his March arrest, Brown was arrested for drunk driving a second time that October. The second arrest led the judge to inflate Brown’s already serious sentence.
Some media outlets have speculated that Brown received favorable treatment due to his celebrity status, but it is not uncommon for judges to sentence defendants to house arrest after multiple DUI convictions.
Prison overcrowding is a serious issue in many states, as legislators continue to inflate sentences for a wide range of crimes so judges often prefer to let non-violent offenders serve out their jail sentences elsewhere.
In addition, thanks to his four-year probationary sentence, any slip-ups by Brown in the near future could lead to a dramatically higher sentence, as well as a hefty fine, and a potential long-term suspension of his driving license.
Sources also note that Brown’s only allowed trips outside his home while he serves his “jail” sentence will be mandatory visits to Alcoholic’s Anonymous three times a week.
So the court is hopeful that Brown will be able to clean up his act. If not, the sentences for Brown’s DUI convictions will only grow more severe.
By johnclark
By John Clark
Peter Murphy, the legendary goth-rocker who was the lead singer for Bauhaus three decades ago, was arrested for a DUI this weekend, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times.
Sources say the 55-year-old performer allegedly rear-ended a Mercedes with his Subaru Forester in Glendale, California, which reportedly injured the driver of the other car. But Murphy didn’t stop there.
According to the police report, Murphy fled the scene of the accident, driving into Los Angeles, where an alert eyewitness blocked Murphy’s path after following the singer from the scene of the drunk driving accident.
Sources say one eyewitness capture a photograph of Murphy’s license plate as he was speeding away from the accident.
In addition, a Good Samaritan reportedly followed Murphy in his pickup truck, which blocked Murphy’s path until police officers arrived on the scene.
At the time of his arrest, Murphy reportedly looked “very confused,” and issued a weak attempt at an excuse for his behavior by claiming that he was suffering from jet lag.
The singer also swore that he had not had any alcohol before driving, and said the only substance in his system were prescription pills for depression, according to the police report.
Police, however, claim they found a bag of methamphetamine in the squad car where Murphy had been detained after his arrest. Prosecutors plan to argue that the bag belonged to Murphy, although the singer denies that he owned the drugs.
Sources do not say whether Murphy has a prior history of drunk driving, but even if he did have a former DUI conviction on his record, he could have avoided significant legal trouble by simply waiting at the scene of the accident until police arrived.
Courts view DUI accidents with disdain, but they’re certainly less likely to take pity on defendants who flee the scene of an accident, especially if the innocent party is injured.
Of course, fleeing the scene of an accident is also a separate offense, so Murphy has exposed to himself to a significantly longer jail sentence and higher fines.
According to sources, Murphy was formally charged this week with causing injuries while driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, possessing methamphetamine, and engaging in a felony hit-and-run.
Murphy, who currently lives in Turkey and was only visiting the United States, is being held on $500,000 bail after a Los Angeles judge decided he was a legitimate flight risk, according to court reports.
By johnclark
By John Clark
Randy Travis will reportedly avoid a stint in jail after pleading guilty to drunk driving this week, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times.
Sources say the country music legend was arrested by police officers near Tioga, Texas, last August after crashing his Pontiac Trans Am into a construction site.
According to the police report, the 53-year-old entertainer had a blood alcohol level of 0.21 percent at the time of his arrest, which is more than twice the legal limit in Texas of 0.08 percent.
The police report also alleged that Travis was “belligerent” at the scene of the accident. Specifically, Travis initially refused to take a breathalyzer test and he also threatened to shoot the officers who worked on his case.
Even more bizarre, the incident reportedly started after a witness called 911 and told the dispatcher that a naked man, presumably Travis, was lying in the road.
For his antics, Travis was charged with “retaliation and obstruction,” in addition to the DUI charge that was leveled against him after the accident.
Sources say that Travis was able to drop the retaliation and obstruction charge by pleading guilty to driving under the influence.
Under the terms of his plea bargain, Travis will have two spend two years on probation, perform 100 hours of community service, attend an alcohol treatment facility, and pay a $2,000 fine.
In addition, the court will install an ignition interlock device on any car Travis drives. These instruments prevent drivers from starting their cars if they are intoxicated, according to sources.
However, if Travis fails to abide by the terms of his probation, he will likely be sent to jail. And local sources have been quick to note that the celebrity did not receive any favors from Grayson County officials.
According to Joe Brown, the local district attorney, Travis received a sentence that was “considerably” more strict than the sentence that is “typically received” for similar DUI cases.
Brown also said that first-time DUI offenders are “rarely forced into in-patient treatment,” and noted that the singer’s “fine and community service requirements are more than double what is usually received.”
Finally, Brown also noted that the relatively high level of punishment given to Travis was “appropriate in light of his behavior with the officers.”
To his credit, Travis thanked the court for its “courtesy” before his sentencing, and expressed gratitude to the responding officers for “taking care of me that night.”
By johnclark
By John Clark
Just one month after one his teammates was killed in a drunk driving crash, Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Jay Ratliff has been arrested for driving while intoxicated, according to a report from the Dallas Morning News.
Sources say Ratliff, widely renowned as one of the top nose tackles in the National Football League, was arrested on Tuesday just after midnight following a two-car accident in Grapevine, Texas.
According to sources, Ratliff was driving west on a state highway when his Ford F150 truck ran into a tractor trailer. After striking the large truck, Ratliff’s car reportedly spun into a highway barrier.
Remarkably, no one was injured in the crash, so Ratliff was very fortunate to have escaped the deadly consequences suffered by his deceased teammate, 25-year-old Jerry Brown Jr.
Last month, Brown was a passenger in a vehicle driven by Josh Brent, another defensive lineman for the Cowboys, who crashed and flipped his car while driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.189, which is more than twice the legal limit in Texas.
Brown tragically died shortly after the accident, and Brent, his longtime friend and teammate, will soon face trial on a charge of intoxication manslaughter, a second-degree felony.
Fortunately, Ratliff escaped the fate of his teammates, although the 31-year-old player will likely face serious legal consequences for his actions.
According to sources, Ratliff failed a field sobriety test at the scene of the accident, although he refused to take a breathalyzer test after being booked in jail. He was, however, released from county jail Tuesday morning, after posting a $500 bond.
Under Texas law, police are allowed to obtain a warrant to draw the blood of potential drunk drivers if they refuse to take a breathalyzer test. Sources say this practice was used to draw blood from Ratliff, although police are still awaiting the results of his toxicology report.
Neither the Cowboys nor Ratliff’s agent had released a statement at press time, as both parties are likely waiting for the legal system to play its role before they jump to any conclusions about the incident.
If Ratliff is suspended by the league for any period of time, it could hurt the Cowboys in 2013. Sources say Ratliff has played in four Pro Bowls during his eight-year tenure in Dallas.
In 2011, Ratliff signed a $40 million contract extension that will pay him handsomely until 2017. Of course, the Cowboys could void his contract if he suffers a serious injury, but $18 million of the contract is guaranteed, so Ratliff has plenty of financial security.
By johnclark
By John Clark
A former Pennsylvania legislator was sentenced this week to a minimum of three months in prison after he was convicted for assaulting his wife and driving under the influence, according to a report from the Allentown Morning Call.
Sources say former Rep. Joseph Brennan, a Democrat from the town of Fountain Hall, was arrested in August after he reportedly punched his wife and drove away while under the influence of alcohol.
The incident forced Brennan, who won his first term in 2006, to drop his campaign for re-election. In addition, Brennan’s DUI arrest was his second in the past two years, according to sources.
Following his arrest, Brennan pleaded guilty to two charges: simple assault and drunk driving. After a request from his wife, Brennan was able to avoid a jail sentence for the assault charge, but faces a severe penalty for his second DUI arrest.
Sources note that Brennan asked his judge for home confinement, rather than a prison term, because he was scheduled to start a new position as a research analyst for the House Democratic Caucus. Surprisingly, the prosecutor in the case agreed with the proposal.
The judge, however, was not amenable to the idea, and he promptly ordered the former lawmaker to head to prison for a minimum of three months. According to sources, Brennan could ultimately serve up to 23 months for his actions.
The judge has little sympathy for Brennan’s claim that imprisonment would be a financial hardship. According to the judge, who admirably refused to give the legislator special treatment, prison is “a hardship for every defendant who stands before me.”
The common perception in the DUI cases of celebrities or political figures is that judges often give such defendants some leniency, particularly if the arrest is their first offense.
But the fact that Brennan has been arrested for drunk driving twice in the past two years, as well as the unseemly allegation that he punched and choked his wife, likely added to the judge’s frustration with Brennan’s pleas for clemency.
One can only hope that the prison sentence will help Brennan gain some control over his life. After his drunk driving arrest in 2011, the former lawmaker admitted to local reporters that he had experienced a “long and personal struggle with alcohol.”
This struggle may see some progress while Brennan in prison, although he will certainly be under some financial stress. Sources say Brennan has been placed on unpaid leave from his new job, and a spokesman for the House Democratic Caucus said has status “will be reviewed” after his release.
By johnclark
By John Clark
Matt Bush, the first overall pick in the 2004 amateur baseball draft, was sentenced this week to 51 months in prison after pleading no contest to a drunk driving charge, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
Sources say Bush was widely believed to be a future superstar, but troubles with alcohol and several arrests eventually destroyed the young prospect’s career.
The latest incident for the 26-year-old happened this March, when Bush nearly killed a 72-year-old man in a hit-and-run accident, according to sources.
On that night, sources say Bush was driving a Dodge Durango that he had borrowed from a frien when he struck Tony Tufano’s motorcycle and quickly fled the scene of the accident.
When police finally caught up with Bush, who was driving without a license, they discovered that his blood alcohol level was 0.18 percent, which is more than twice the legal limit in Florida.
After the accident, Tufano reportedly stayed in intensive care for a few weeks. While in intensive care, the victim was treated for brain hemorrhaging, several broken bones, and a collapsed lung.
And while Tufano has made a partial recovery, his family members claim that he will never be the same, and expressed their disappointment that Bush only received a 51-month prison sentence.
Sources say that Bush pleaded no contest to a single charge, driving under the influence with serious bodily injury. In return for his plea, prosecutors agreed to drop six other charges stemming from the March accident.
But the prison sentence won’t be his only punishment. In addition to his prison term, Bush will have his license revoked in Florida for 10 years, since this is his third DUI conviction in the last decade. Bush will also have to pay a nominal amount of court costs.
Bush’s legal troubles, however, extend beyond his criminal conviction. Sources say that Trufano’s family has filed a $5 million personal injury lawsuit against Bush and the teammate who allowed him to drive his car without a license.
According to Shannon Moore, Tufano’s daughter-in-law, she and her family are “not too confident” that Bush won’t “do it again,” referring, of course, to the likelihood that Bush will continue to drive drunk after he is released from prison.
In addition, Moore pinned some of the blame on the Tampa Bay Rays, which signed Bush to a minor-league contract in 2010.
In her words, Bush “wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the Rays, so I think the family is a little upset with the Rays, knowing Matt Bush’s history, all the DUIs, why would they bring him to this area?”
By admin
By John Clark
Taran Noah Smith, the former child star who played Tim Allen’s youngest child on “Home Improvement,” was convicted this week for driving under the influence and drug possession, according to a report from the Huffington Post.
Sources say Smith was arrested back in February after police approached his vehicle when he was parked in front of a fire hydrant.
When the officers found Smith, they suspected that he was under the influence of marijuana due to the smell of the vehicle and promptly searched his car, which revealed that he had a significant amount of hash.
After discovering the drug, the police arrested the 28-year-old actor and charged him with a DUI and drug possession, according to sources.
In order to lighten his eventual sentence, Smith reported pleaded guilty to the charge of drug possession and “no contest” to the drunk driving charge. In most jurisdictions, a “no contest” plea carries the same weight as a guilty plea, but the defendant technically does not admit to his or her guilt.
By taking the plea bargain, Smith was likely given a lighter sentence. Sources say the former child star was sentenced to a six-month drug diversion program and three years of probation for the drug offense. For the DUI, he must complete a 12-hour education program.
Smith’s plight illustrates a common misconception about modern DUI laws. While drunk driving is the most common reason for a DUI, police officers can arrest people for driving under the influence of drugs like marijuana, as well.
And while the recent legalization of marijuana in a few states could complicated the enforcement of DUI drug laws, legislators remain steadfast in their disapproval of driving under the influence of pot.
This is a lesson Smith learned the hard way. Sources say, however, that this is the latest in a strong of troubling incidents for the child star, who has reportedly had long-term issues with drug abuse.
Smith became famous during the 1990’s when he played Mark on “Home Improvement.” The actor was only 7 years old when he first appeared on the show, and had a very public dispute with his parents over his earnings when he reached the age of majority.
In fact, Smith sued his parents in 2001 for allegedly wasting the money he earned on the show. The troubles he experienced during his acting career give a hint as to why Smith said it was “pretty exciting to leave it behind and do other things” when the hit show ended.
By admin
By John Clark
Carlton Fisk, a Hall of Fame catcher who played for both the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox, was arrested for a DUI this week after he was allegedly found unconscious behind the wheel of his car, according to an ESPN report.
The arrest gets more bizarre. Sources say that police in New Lenox, Illinois arrested Fisk after they discovered him passed out in the middle of a rural corn field.
According to New Lenox Deputy Chief Bob Pawlisz, the police “received a couple of calls about a vehicle in a field” around 7:20 p.m. on Monday night. When they responded to the calls, they discovered Fisk and his car in the middle of the field.
The officers who arrived on the scene, not surprisingly, “had reason to believe he was under the influence,” according to the understated Pawlisz.
After discovering the 64-year-old baseball celebrity, police “contacted local paramedics in New Lenox, had him examined” and transported the Hall of Famer to the local hospital.
Sources say that Fisk was eventually charged with several different criminal counts, including a lane violation, driving under the influence of alcohol, and illegally transporting an open container of alcohol in his car.
After Fisk was treated and released from the hospital, police took him to a Will County jail. Shortly after he was booked, Fisk posted bond and was released from jail. Fisk is scheduled to appear in court for his first hearing in late November.
The arrest was an embarrassing moment for the former baseball star, who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame just a few years ago.
Sources say that Fisk’s career started in 1969 with the Boston Red Sox. Fisk played for Boston for 11 years before signing as a free agent with the Chicago White Sox. After a remarkably long career, especially at such a grueling position, Fisk finally retired in 1993.
On a poignant note, sources say that Fisk’s DUI arrest happened one day after the 37th anniversary of his miraculous home run in Game 6 of the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds, which remains an important part of his legacy.
For his crime, Fisk could potentially face jail time, a suspended driver’s license, or a severe fine, depending on the number of previous DUI arrests he has on his record.
The severity of the incident, and the fact that he was so intoxicated he drove into a corn field and fell asleep, will not help mitigate his potential punishment.
By Mike
By John Clark
A professional golfer has escaped a DUI arrest with a relatively light sentence consisting solely of community service, according to a recent report from NBC Sports.
Sources say that British golfer Rachel Connor was arrested back in March when the 21-year-old athlete was pulled over by police in the middle of the night for speeding.
Connor, who is a member of England’s national golf team and is a star on the LPGA Futures Tour, exhibited signs of inebriation, and reportedly failed a field sobriety test. Sources say she also registered a 0.133 percent during a breathalyzer test, which is well above the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
Adding intrigue to the arrest was the presence of former NFL running back, and current sports commentator, Eddie George in the passenger seat. George, a former player for Ohio State University and the Tennessee Titans, was not cited during Connor’s arrest.
Connor and George had played that afternoon in the Archie Griffin Celebrity Golf Classic in Florida, and after the arrest, George told reporters that Connor was simply giving him a ride home because she lived close to his home.
Naturally, reporters were skeptical about this explanation, and George, who has been married to singer Tamara Johnson since 2004, fielded thinly veiled criticism from several news outlets.
Perhaps more suspicious was Connor’s ability to escape the DUI charge without jail time, but this is actually a very common occurrence for first-time DUI offenders, and is likely not related to her status as a minor celebrity.
In addition, Connor did not escape without any punishment at all. Sources say the court will probably suspend her license for 6 months, and she will also likely have her car impounded for a few days.
In Florida, however, drivers can often recover their licenses earlier if they agree to pay additional fines. Moreover, Connor completely escaped jail time, and will only have to do a modest amount of community services, according to sources.
After receiving the news of her sentence, Connor posted a lengthy series of messages on her Twitter account, according to sources. In her words: “It’s hard to accept, but you can’t change the past. You can’t go back and manipulate things the way you wanted them to happen. Because life would be meaningless and boring and just not worth living.”
So, Connor will continue to live a life full of meaning and excitement, but before she gets carried away, she will have to do a bit of community service.
By Mike
By John Clark
Linda Hogan, the ex-wife of former wrestler Hulk Hogan, and a celebrity in her own right, was arrested in Malibu on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to a Fox News report.
Sources from the local police department revealed that the driver, whose real name is Linda Bollea, was arrested late Thursday night for drunk driving, spent a few hours behind bars, and was later released on a $5,000 bail.
In addition to the drunk driving charges, the 53-year-old reality television star was also reportedly booked for driving with a suspended license. Sources say that Bollea was pulled over for driving faster than the speed limit.
A person claiming to be a representative for Bollea recently told celebrity gossip outlet TMZ that her employer was driving home from a party in Los Angeles where she drank a single glass of empty champagne without having any food.
In addition, the representative claimed that Bollea has been taking antibiotics and that the drugs interacted negatively with the allegedly small amount of alcohol.
Bollea’s DUI arrest, however, was only the second most noteworthy event related to the extended Hogan clan this week, although her ex-husband might be grateful that it deflected a bit of attention from his current troubles.
Sources say that footage of Hulk Hogan having sex with an unidentified woman was released this week on the Internet.
Hogan is planning to take legal actions to remove the video from the offending website this week, but the damage may already have been done, as the video has now been publicly available for several days.
According to Hogan’s attorney, the website that posted the video had “no right” to do so, and if it refuses to delete the footage, Hogan has threatened to file a lawsuit.
The attorney also emphasized that the video was made without the wrestler’s “knowledge or permission,” and further warned that anyone “displaying the tape will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
Remarkably, sources say that the sex tape has been circling for months, as the owner actively sought a buyer, but the video only reached public airwaves this week.
So while Linda Bollea will soon have to head to court to face DUI charges, her former husband may also be forced to head to court to prevent the distribution of the sex tape. It truly was a difficult week for the former celebrity couple.
By Mike
By John Clark
Michael Turner, the popular running back for the Atlanta Falcons, was arrested for a DUI just hours after scoring a touchdown in the team’s victory over the Denver Broncos, according to a report from Sports Illustrated.
Sources say the 30-year-old athlete was booked into the Gwinnett County jail in Atlanta, Georgia, shortly after 5 a.m. that Tuesday morning.
Turner, however, only spent about two hours in an actual jail cell, and was eventually released on a $2,179 bond, according to sources.
In a news release, Edwin Ritter, a spokesman for the Gwinnett County Police Department, said the arresting officer “could smell an odor of alcoholic beverage coming from the driver and proceeded to conduct a DUI investigation.”
The officer had pulled Turner to the side of the road after the running back’s Audi R8 was seen traveling at 97 mph, which was 32 mph over the speed limit on the highway Turner was using.
Turner reportedly agreed to perform a field sobriety test, the results of which convinced the officer to haul Turner to jail.
The arrest capped a momentous day for Turner, who had scored the Falcons’ first touchdown against Denver just hours before he was caught for drunk driving. Sources say that the touchdown, which was his 51st for the franchise, set a team record.
The team ultimately prevailed over the Broncos by a 27-21 margin, capping a very successful opening to the season for the Falcons, who were predicted by many experts to win their division this year.
When asked by reporters how the arrest could affect Turner’s playing time, the team’s coach, Mike Smith, was cautious and diplomatic.
Smith said that “any time a player sheds negatively on our football team and on our organization, we are very disappointed,” but he also noted that this is a “legal matter, and it’s very well-defined how we have to proceed with it through the league, and we’ll let this process run its course.”
And Smith and Turner have already had a conversation about the incident .According to Smith, Turner “knows that we are disappointed in the decisions that he made after the ballgame last night.”
But Turner may not know his football fate for a while. Under the terms of the league’s new collective bargaining agreement, the team must follow specific guidelines before it’s able to punish Turner by docking his pay or suspending him from a game.