DOWNEY ARRESTED IN DRUG CASE.Byline: Donna Huffaker Staff Writer Actor Robert Downey Jr. is in trouble with the law again. Three months after gaining an early release from prison, the 35-year-old actor was arrested at a Palm Springs resort late Saturday on suspicion of drug possession and probation violation, police Sgt. John Booth said Sunday. An anonymous 911 call led authorities to Downey's room at the posh Merv Griffin Mervyn Edward "Merv" Griffin, Jr. (July 6 1925 – August 12 2007) was an American talk show host, game show host, entertainer, pianist, television personality and raconteur. Resort Hotel and Givenchy Spa at about 9 p.m. Saturday, Booth said. Palm Springs police found Downey alone in the room with cocaine and methamphetamine, Booth said. He said Downey appeared to be under the influence of narcotics narcotics n. 1) techinically, drugs which dull the senses. 2) a popular generic term for drugs which cannot be legally possessed, sold, or transported except for medicinal uses for which a physician or dentist's prescription is required. but was arrested without incident. ``He was conscious and conversed with the officers,'' said Palm Springs police Officer Ralph Landry. ``He was very cooperative.'' Heidi Geier, general manager for the Palm Springs resort, said the 911 call did not come from the 104-room hotel, sprawled across 14 acres, with gardens, pools, spas and prices ranging from from a $185 to $1,150 a night. Geier said Downey had stayed for several days in a medium-price room. ``He was a great guest. He kept very private. There were no incidents. His room's fine. It wasn't like any major ordeal happened.'' Since his release from prison in August, Downey relaunched his career with a recurring role on the Fox TV series ``Ally McBeal For the character, see . Ally McBeal is an award-winning American television series which ran on the FOX network from 1997 to 2002. The series was created by David E. Kelley, who also served as the executive producer, along with Bill D'Elia. .'' He posted $15,000 bail Sunday and is expected to be arraigned on the charges in Indio within 30 days. Drugs have bedeviled the Oscar-nominated star for years. He once said of his drug addiction drug addiction or chemical dependency Physical and/or psychological dependency on a psychoactive (mind-altering) substance (e.g., alcohol, narcotics, nicotine), defined as continued use despite knowing that the substance causes harm. : ``It's like I've got a shotgun in my mouth, with my finger on the trigger, and I like the taste of the gun metal.'' In June 1996, authorities stopped Downey on suspicion of speeding on the Pacific Coast Highway Pacific Coast Highway may refer to:
prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a court document. The next month, authorities said Downey wandered into a neighbor's home and passed out on a child's bed, where he was found unconscious. He was arrested on suspicion of trespassing. He was next arrested for leaving a court-ordered drug program at the Exodus Recovery Center in Marina del Rey Del Rey may refer to:
In March 1998, Superior Court Judge Lawrence Mira Lawrence Joseph Mira (b. August 9, 1942) is a Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge whose courtroom is in Malibu, California. Known by some as "Judge to the Stars", Mira's name has been mentioned in numerous high-profile and celebrity arrests due to the region his courtroom ordered Downey released from the Men's Central Jail in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. , where he was serving a six-month sentence for using drugs while on probation, so the actor could complete work on the film ``In Dreams.'' It was the fourth time in two months the judge had excused Downey from jail to work on movies. The late Sherman Block, then sheriff of Los Angeles County, criticized the judge and described Downey as a difficult prisoner. ``Just because he's a movie star, he shouldn't get special privileges,'' Block said during a 1998 press conference. ``He's very manipulative. He's always trying to con people into something,'' Block said without giving examples. Mira praised Downey's initial progress in drug rehabilitation This article is about the process of rehabilitation for substance dependency. For other uses, see Rehab (disambiguation). For other kinds of rehabilitation, see Rehabilitation. For the American rap-rock group, see Rehab (band). , but nine months later ordered him locked up again. The actor admitted during a probation hearing that he had been missing scheduled drug tests. Mira then sentenced Downey to three years in state prison for violating probation. He was transferred to the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison (SATF) is a state prison in California, USA. Opened in August 1997, it is a drug treatment prison where 100% of the inmates are in worker programs. In 2002/2003, ASP had a budget of $101 million and 899 correctional officers. in Corcoran. In October 1999, Downey pleaded for release and a lighter sentence, but Mira denied the actor's request. The judge also called Downey manipulative and said he had already misused several chances to rehabilitate himself. This year, the state Court of Appeal ruled in August that Downey had served enough time to fulfill his prison sentence. The court panel said he was entitled to receive credit for time served in drug-rehabilitation facilities. Downey was released on $5,000 bail. The actor won an Oscar nomination in the title role of `Chaplin,'' a 1992 screen biography of the famed comedian. Downey had earned praise for his portrayal of a wealthy, cocaine-addicted teen-ager in ``Less than Zero.'' Of the film, Downey has said the characters in the 1987 movie - rich Beverly Hills Beverly Hills, city (1990 pop. 31,971), Los Angeles co., S Calif., completely surrounded by the city of Los Angeles; inc. 1914. The largely residential city is home to many motion-picture and television personalities. brats who drain pricey cocktails and ingest in·gest tr.v. in·gest·ed, in·gest·ing, in·gests 1. To take into the body by the mouth for digestion or absorption. See Synonyms at eat. 2. vials of drugs at parties and bars - hit close to home. He said some of his early life was spent in Los Angeles, and he saw people around him become consumed by drugs. A week after leaving prison in August, Downey was cast in ``Ally McBeal'' this season as Larry, an attorney who has been both romantically and professionally entangled en·tan·gle tr.v. en·tan·gled, en·tan·gling, en·tan·gles 1. To twist together or entwine into a confusing mass; snarl. 2. To complicate; confuse. 3. To involve in or as if in a tangle. with the heroine, portrayed by Calista Flockhart. Ally hired Larry to represent her in a trial. In last week's episode he won the case, and the two took steps toward a relationship. Critics have been nearly unanimous in their praise of Downey as Larry, although the show itself has slipped in the ratings in the last two seasons. Downey poked fun at his ex-con status after he got out of prison and accepted the role. ``Once again I have a choice of shirt colors,'' he said. Downey had planned to star in January in a Los Angeles stage run of Shakespeare's ``Hamlet,'' to be directed by fellow actor Mel Gibson. Daily News TV writer David Kronke and the Associated press contributed to this report. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) DOWNEY |
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