Arrests

TMZ has learned that "30 Rock" star Tracy Morgan has pleaded guilty this morning to misdemeanor DUI charges, stemming from an early morning bust in New York late last year.

Morgan was popped in Manhattan at 4:30 AM on November 28 on suspicion of drunk driving, after cops noticed his erratic driving.

According to the police report, Morgan "was unable to maintain a position in a lane of traffic." This was Morgan's second drunk driving arrest.

With a spring in her step, Nicole left a valet team after attending a holiday party at Gunnar Peterson's (yes, that Gunnar Peterson) ... and had to deal with the peering paparazzi. Mercifully, she rode in her new prime location -- the passenger seat.

The tiny celebutante, currently in hot water after her arrest, was apparently so cold she wore a blanket to lunch. Richie tried to make it impossible to take her photo yesterday as she left a sushi bar in Los Angeles.

Nicole Richie could be adding stripes to her wardrobe in the very near future.

TMZ has found court documents which reveal that Richie pled no contest four years ago to driving under the influence. Under California law, if Richie is convicted of DUI as a result of Monday's arrest, the judge must impose a jail sentence.

The law requires a mandatory sentence of five consecutive days in county jail as well as a one year license suspension for anyone twice-convicted of DUI. In addition, Richie would be ordered to attend an alcohol education program for a year-and-a-half, even if the second conviction is not alcohol-related.

As TMZ first reported, Richie admitted to CHP officers that she had taken Vicodin and smoked pot before driving the wrong way on a Burbank freeway. A field sobriety test revealed she was not under the influence of alcohol.

Cop: "What have you eaten today?"
Nicole: "French Fries"

TMZ has obtained the police documents in the 2002 case. In the arrest report it reveals that Richie told cops all she had eaten that day were french fries. As for what she drank that day -- "1 shot vodka."

She blew a .12. and a .13 in two separate tests. In California, .08 is considered legally intoxicated. Richie was stopped in her Toyota Corolla after a UCLA police officer observed her blowing a red light and driving over a speed bump at more than 50 miles an hour in an area with a 15 mph speed limit. Richie flunked the field sobriety test -- her eyes were watery and bloodshot, and she could not keep her balance.

Richie was given three years probation for her 2002 DUI conviction and had her license suspended for one year. Six months later, Richie was arrested for possession of heroin and for driving with a suspended license.

Ryder and an unidentified companion swept through a department store at the Beverly Center yesterday, trying to evade the glare of a cameraman's lens. Winona gets a rather wide-eyed look from one clerk while she handles a hanger, then has her friend carry the bags out of the store. We're assuming she paid for the Starbucks coffee with which she attempts to hide her face.

On December 12, 2001, Ryder was arrested at Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills for attempting to filch thousands of dollars worth of clothes and accessories. She was convicted of felony grand theft and vandalism, but the charges were later reduced to misdemeanors.

A 17-year-old boy has already died in an SUV driven by a celebrity. Someone else is going to die, and it will happen sooner rather than later.

Nicole Richie's loved ones could easily have been planning her funeral today -- likewise the loved ones of the people driving the right way on the 134 Freeway early Monday morning.

Lane Garrison must be scratching his head today. Why, he must be asking, did he have such bad luck? The fact is, the differentiating factor that makes Garrison a killer and Richie a DUI'er is luck. That's it.

I'm not trying to preach, and I will readily admit that TMZ has prospered off the antics of a group of young celebrities. When Brandon Davis went on his "firecrotch" rant against Lindsay, it was endlessly entertaining. When Paris got in fender-benders, it was so TMZ. And when Britney spread her legs for all the world to see, well it was Internet gold.

But the line has been crossed. The dark side of Hollywood has been revealed in the last month. And really, it's no surprise. There are a lot of young celebs who got really rich and very famous way too soon. The people who surround them are not used to saying "no." These celebs have gotten away with a lot -- mostly small stuff -- for a long time. And each time you get away with something you shouldn't, you get bolder the next time.

These celebs, for the most part, have no compass to guide them. Look at Lindsay Lohan. Her dad used the revolving door at his local jail while her mom was at war with him when she wasn't out partying. Lohan really didn't stand a chance, and it's sad.

While Britney Spears may be partying and undressing like Paris Hilton, the question is: Will she be following in her alcohol-soaked, law-breaking footsteps?

On the heels of DUIs by Hilton and Nicole Richie, wagerweb.com has released their picks for which member of the A-list party crowd is most likely to wind up busted behind the wheel. These stars can run but they can not Hyde.

Not surprisingly, Britney tops the list with a 1 to 2 chance that she'll be arrested and charged with a DUI. Paris, who was busted early this year, could be a repeat offender and so she lands the #2 spot. Good-time train wreck Tara Reid may be trying to clean up her image, but it's not enough to keep her from sloshing into the #3 spot on the list. Keeping her out of clubs might keep her out of jail.

Despite her wreck-a-week driving skills and AA membership, Lindsay Lohan hiccups into #4. Wait until she's of age! Rounding out the top 5: Limoncello aficionado, Danny DeVito.

Rosie said that the pin-thin Richie was about the same size as her 9-year-old, and Barbara lamented that Nicole felt compelled to downsize herself from the miniscule 100 pounds listed on her driver's license, to the skeletal 85 pounds that authorites listed as her weight on arrest.

ABC Television has offices near the exit ramp which Richie used to enter the freeway going the wrong way. ABC security guards noticed the commotion on their monitors and trained their security camera in that direction.

The pictures show Richie talking to CHP officers. We're told she admitted that she had taken Vicodin and smoked pot.

Richie was arrested on suspicion of DUI early Monday morning after admitting to CHP deputies that she had taken Vicodin and smoked marijuana.

TMZ has learned that Nicole Richie was arrested for DUI early Monday morning. She was booked at 4:50 AM today and was released around 7:15 this morning. The booking sheet reveals Richie is 5'1" and 85 lbs.

We're told two motorists spotted her SUV going the wrong way on the 134 Freeway in Burbank. The drivers called 911.

When the CHP responded, Richie was stopped in the carpool lane and was alone in the vehicle. When cops approached the vehicle, Richie was on her cellphone.

Law enforcement officers tell TMZ Nicole Richie admitted she had taken Vicodin and smoked pot.

A preliminary alcohol screening device revealed that Nicole was not under the influence of alcohol.

One law enforcement source tell TMZ that while Richie was at the jail she was "very cooperative and very humble."

This is not the first brush Richie has had with substance abuse. In 2003, she pled guilty to heroin possession. The charges were dismissed after she completed the terms of her probation.

A rep for Richie had no comment.

TMZ has learned that "30 Rock" star Tracy Morgan was busted for drunk driving early this morning in New York.

Police sources tell TMZ the comedian/actor was stopped at 4:38 AM in Manhattan after cops noticed he was driving erratically. According to the police report, Morgan "was unable to maintain a position in a lane of traffic."

Edison Alban, spokesperson for the Manhattan D.A.'s office, tells TMZ that Morgan told cops he was drinking beer at a club before he was pulled over.

Morgan was taken to the 33rd Precinct and charged with Driving While Intoxicated and Operating a Motor Vehicle While Impaired.

This is Morgan's second drunk driving arrest. He's currently on probation in Los Angeles for a D.U.I. conviction. The latest arrest could constitute a violation of Morgan's probation and, as a result, he could face jail time in both L.A. and New York.

Katt Williams was arrested Monday at Los Angeles International Airport for allegedly carrying a stolen concealed weapon.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ the arrest occurred at 3 p.m. in Terminal 5. Williams, a popular comedian who recently starred in his own HBO stand-up comedy special, was stopped at the security checkpoint. Security officers found a concealed weapon in his carry-on luggage. One law enforcement source described it as a "cheap, Saturday night special." The LAPD was called and Williams, who stars alongside Nick Canon on the popular MTV show "Wild 'N Out," was arrested. Cops determined the concealed weapon was stolen. They also found three additional weapons in luggage that Williams had already checked in.

Hilary Duff's alleged 18-year-old stalker has been arrested and sources tell TMZ the bust occurred after the man threatened to kill Duff this weekend.

Manhattan Beach cops arrested Maksim Miakovsky, an 18-year-old Russian emigre, at a Residence Inn last Friday. He was booked on charges of making criminal threats and stalking.

TMZ first reported last month that Duff and her boyfriend, Joel Madden, were terrified that Miakovsky would do harm to them. Duff and Madden asked for a restraining order, alleging that Miakovsky

"has stated his intention of 'removing' his 'enemies' (i.e., those who prevent him from being with her), has stated his intention of purchasing a weapon, and has threatened to kill himself and to engage in dramatic actions to get her attention."

Sources tell TMZ that last Friday, a private investigator from Sunset Protective Services contacted Miakovsky at the Residence Inn and Miakovsky stated his intention of killing Duff on Sunday at an event she was scheduled to attend.

According to legal papers filed by Duff, Miakovsky came to the U.S. "for the sole purpose of meeting and becoming romantically involved with Ms. Duff."

LONDON (AP) -- George Michael was arrested on suspicion of possessing marijuana after police found him slumped over the steering wheel of his car in London, authorities said Monday.

Michael was arrested after police responded to complaints that a car was blocking an intersection in North London at 3:22 a.m. Sunday. He received a caution for possession of cannabis and was released on bail on a charge of being unfit to drive. He has a November court date.

Just a week earlier, Michael gave his first solo concert in 15 years. The Spain show kicked off his new tour, "25 Live," which is scheduled for 28 European cities this fall.

Michael rose to fame in the 1980s as half of the duo Wham! before starting his solo career. Police had earlier warned Michael for possession of cannabis in February.

In April, he hit three parked cars. He later acknowledged in an interview that he was a "terrible driver" and said he was trying to maneuver out of a parking spot.