Arrests

Kim Kardashian West's tweet advocating for DNA testing that could possibly free a death row prisoner is completely disrespectful to the family of those he murdered ... so says the prosecutor on the case.

San Bernardino County D.A. Mike Ramos tells TMZ ... his office firmly stands behind the conviction of Kevin Cooper, who was found guilty of 4 murders in 1983. Cooper has maintained his innocence and even suggested he was framed.

Ramos says he has no doubt Cooper committed the horrendous killings, and claims the case against him only gets stronger each time he appeals.

As for Kim's tweet -- in which she urges California Gov. Jerry Brown to order advanced DNA testing that could settle the case once and for all -- Ramos says ... "It’s time that we start talking and 'tweeting' about the victims who were brutally murdered in the sanctity of their home."

Ramos adds ... "This latest attempt to free Kevin Cooper is nothing more than a red herring and another slap in the face of the victims and their family members who were forced to suffer a lifetime of pain."

Antonella Barba -- known for her appearance on the 6th season of "American Idol" -- has been arrested for allegedly trying to distribute heroin ... TMZ has learned.

The singer was busted Thursday in Virginia around 11:30 AM and is facing a felony charge of heroin distribution of 100g or more ... according to the Norfolk Sheriff's Office. Details are scarce, but Barba is still being held in jail without bond and has a court date set for next week.

Antonella was eliminated right before the top 12 were chosen on Season 6 of 'Idol' in 2007, amid some notoriety for posing in a wet t-shirt in the fountain of the World War II Memorial in D.C.

She was also busted for shoplifting in NYC in 2011, but that didn't stop her from appearing on an episode of "Fear Factor" in 2012.

Her latest TV gig was in a funny 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' video that brought a bunch of past 'Idol' stars together for a musical "Where Are They Now?" segment.

We reached out to Barba's rep ... so far no word back.

Former 'Bachelor' contestant Amanda Stanton is now officially charged in her Las Vegas domestic violence case, and she's pled not guilty ... TMZ has learned.

Amanda's attorney entered her plea Wednesday in the Clark County courthouse after she was charged with one count of misdemeanor domestic battery. We broke the story when she got busted last month following an argument with her BF, Bobby Jacobs. We're told Amanda allegedly shoved him in front of a security guard at their hotel and the push was harsh enough, the guard called cops.

According to the police report, the altercation was way more severe. Bobby claimed Amanda started to hit him while he was in bed, they argued for hours before she eventually took the room's phone and swung it at him. He also told cops she'd kicked, scratched and pinched him because she was pissed he wasn't answering her calls earlier in the night.

Amanda's rep told us the whole thing was a misunderstanding, calling her shove "playful."

Stop us if you've heard this before ... Lenny Dykstra's got problems.

A grand jury in Union County, NJ just indicted the ex-MLB superstar on 3 serious crimes ... possession of cocaine, possession of meth and making terroristic threats after an alleged blowup with his Uber driver last May.

As we previously reported, Dykstra was arrested back in May after allegedly threatening his Uber driver -- who then stopped the car in front of a police station.

Cops say they found evidence of cocaine and meth -- and took Dykstra into custody.

TMZ Sports obtained police body cam video from the arrest -- in which Dykstra tells the cop he does NOT have a gun in his possession (as originally claimed by the Uber driver).

Remember, the driver claimed Dykstra put a gun to his head during the incident. Dykstra says that's just not true.

In the video, Dykstra is frantically trying to dissuade the cops from searching one of his bags -- it seems obvious why.

Dykstra argued that the Uber driver was the bad guy -- who kidnapped him and Lenny was in fear for his life.

But, the grand jury clearly believes there's enough truth behind the Uber driver's story to move forward with charges against the 55-year-old.

If convicted, Dykstra faces between 3-5 years in prison on each charge.

Jim Jones is officially facing a handful of felony drug and firearm charges for his June arrest in Georgia after a police chase ... TMZ has learned.

The rapper's been hit with 3 counts of possession of a controlled substance and 2 counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony -- so 5 felony charges total ... according to new legal docs.

Jones has also been charged with a 6th count of possession of marijuana, less than an ounce ... which is a misdemeanor.

We broke the story ... Jones was busted on June 20 in Coweta County when a car he was a passenger in led cops on a chase. When it finally stopped, cops searched the vehicle and found marijuana, oxycodone, Percocet, vape cartridges and 2 loaded pistols.

Neither Jones nor the 3 others in the car, including the driver, admitted possession of the items ... so they were all arrested.

Jones' arraignment on the charges is scheduled for later this month. If convicted on all charges, he faces up to decades in prison.

The death row inmate Kim Kardashian West pushed into the spotlight says he appreciates her support, but adds he desperately needs her to get him the one thing he needs to clear his name.

California prisoner Kevin Cooper's attorney, Norman Hile, tells TMZ ... Cooper is aware Kim tweeted about him a few days ago, putting his case front and center with her 60 million followers, but says he really just needs one person's attention -- CA Governor Jerry Brown.

Cooper needs Gov. Brown to order new advanced DNA testing ... a request that Brown's office is currently reviewing.

If you're unfamiliar with his story ... Cooper was convicted of 4 murders in the 1980s. He's maintained his innocence, and even suggested he was framed. A NYT op-ed on the case concluded the same thing.

Kim's tweet was a direct plea to Gov. Brown, and Hile says Cooper is hoping Kim's legion of fans follow up, research his case and then write to Brown. For his part, Cooper is going to write a thank-you letter to Kim.

Our Kim sources tell us she has no personal connection to Cooper, and she simply stumbled across an article about him a few months ago. What's also interesting ... her push on his behalf comes just ahead of Kanye West's Thursday meeting with President Trump.

Katt Williams is a free man again -- and it looks like it'll stay that way for the short-term, 'cause he got a pass from prosecutors in Georgia ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement in Multnomah County, Oregon tells us Katt was released from jail at around 2 PM PT. He'd been cooling off in a cell since getting arrested Saturday for allegedly assaulting a driver. We're told he was cut loose after authorities in Hall County, GA declined to extradite the comedian for failing to appear in court last month.

We broke the story ... Katt had a felony warrant issued for his arrest after he skipped court to attend the Emmys. Sources close to Katt told us he's blaming his management for failing to remind him about his date with a judge.

It's unclear why the Hall County D.A. decided not to drag him back to GA, but it's a stroke of good luck -- for a change -- for Katt.

French Montana isn't trying to fix the criminal justice system by himself, but says he still wants to do his part ... which is why he bailed a woman out of jail who couldn't afford it.

We got French Monday in NYC shortly after he posted bail for a woman in the Bronx who couldn't put up the money. He tells us poverty isn't a crime, and just because you can't afford to get out of a cage doesn't mean you should be in one.

He teamed up with Global Citizen, Revolve Impact, The Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Org and Mass Bail Out, an org focused on this cause, but French told us this is very personal for him ... revealing how the cash bail system has affected some of his close friends.

If it sounds like French is taking a page out of Kim Kardashian West's playbook -- dedicating himself to prison reform -- he says absolutely, because if he didn't ... he'd just be a rapper with a mic.

The Khabib/McGregor after-fight spilled out of the T-Mobile Arena Saturday night, and one ridiculous dude came without a whisker of getting cuffed and carted off to jail.

Fans were fighting after the UFC 229 melee and Las Vegas cops had trouble controlling the situation.

Check out the guy in the green shirt -- a clear sign he's a Conor supporter -- he mouths off to the cops and seems as if he's ready to fight them. Even after getting pushed and warned by an officer, the guy presses his luck, but cops showed restraint and diffused the confrontation.

10/7 8:30 AM PT -- As of Sunday morning, Katt remained in a Portland jail. Law enforcement sources tell us they have to wait until Monday to decide whether Katt will be extradited to Georgia where he faces a felony warrant.

3:40 PM PT -- Katt allegedly attacked the driver of a town car that was supposed to take him to the Moda Center Friday night after an argument about transporting his dog ... according to the police report.

Cops say the driver sustained minor injuries to the face -- including swelling and cuts -- and was treated at a local hospital. Katt left the scene of the alleged assault in another vehicle.

According to the report ... cops located Katt Saturday morning to investigate the incident and arrested him. They also discovered he had an out-of-state warrant.

Katt Williams has been arrested for alleged assault in Portland, Oregon.

The comedian was arrested by Port of Portland police and booked for misdemeanor assault Saturday. His bail's been set at $2,500.

As of now ... it's unclear what Williams did to get arrested, but the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office lists him as a fugitive in another jurisdiction. We're told he may be sent to Atlanta, which could possibly be related to this fugitive status.

Katt was supposed to be a part of Nick Cannon's 'Wild 'N Out Live' concert at the Moda Center Friday night in Portland. We're told he was at the venue at some point, but never made the show.

"Ray Donovan" actor Marion "Pooch" Hall's wild DUI arrest this week -- during which he was allegedly so wasted he let his 2-year-old steer his car -- immediately caught the attention of children's services ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services has opened an investigation into Hall's case. We broke the story ... Hall was arrested Wednesday night after cops say he was driving with a .25 blood alcohol level with his son on his lap and his son's hands on the wheel, and it ended when his car crashed into a parked vehicle.

Hall was arrested for DUI and felony child endangerment and the toddler was released to his mother.

As for what the investigation could entail ... we're told DCFS workers will want to interview the Hall family and run Hall's record to see if this alleged behavior is common, or just a one-time thing.

If it is an isolated incident, our sources say DCFS might be inclined to let the court handle any sort of punishment. It's further complicated by the fact there's no reason -- at least so far -- to remove the child from his mother's custody, and it appears Hall and the mother live together.

6:30 PM PT -- We got video of Amy while she was being detained, and she got a police escort ... to take a pee. She also says she's remaining hopeful about stopping Kavanaugh's confirmation, and isn't going to stop the fight.

Amy Schumer talks the talk and walks the walk when it comes to denouncing Brett Kavanaugh -- 'cause she just got arrested in D.C. with a bunch of other people protesting the imminent vote on his confirmation.

Amy and other protesters were shepherded by D.C. police Thursday inside the Senate office building on Capitol Hill, where an officer asked if she wanted to be arrested. Amy didn't hesitate ... she said yes while holding a "We Believe Anita Hill" sign.

She also had a green shirt on that seemed like it might be a play on Melania Trump's tone-deaf "I Really Don't Care" jacket.

Amy was later seen in a lineup against a wall, where she and others, including Emily Ratajkowski, were being detained. We don't know yet what she's been arrested for ... possibly disturbing the peace or trespassing.

The mass protests in D.C. are in reaction to the FBI concluding its investigation, launched after Dr. Christine Blasey Ford testified last week about her sexual misconduct allegation against Kavanaugh.

It appears what the FBI came back with hasn't swayed the vote of key Senators -- which means Kavanaugh is likely to be confirmed to the Supreme Court.

"Ray Donovan" actor Marion "Pooch" Hall was arrested Wednesday night for DUI and felony child endangerment, after allegedly letting his 2-year-old son drive because he was too wasted to steer.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, Hall, who plays Daryll, was driving in Burbank at around 7:30 PM when witnesses called 911 after seeing the toddler in his lap holding the steering wheel.

We're told the witnesses were horrified to watch the car veer off and smash into a parked car. Thankfully, there were no injuries. One eyewitness tells us he saw the child crying in the front seat. The eyewitness says he looked in the window and the car seat was just laying among the junk in the back seat. It was not installed.

We're told when police came they smelled a strong odor of alcohol and Hall could barely walk. His blood alcohol level ... .25 -- more than 3 times the legal limit.

Hall was cuffed and taken to jail, where he remains on $100,000 bail.

As for his son ... he was released into his wife's custody.

Cher's home has been doubling as a drug den ... but apparently without her knowledge.

We broke the story ... Cher's Malibu mansion was swarmed by cops last Thursday and they executed a search warrant, which led to the arrest of Donovan Ruiz, the 23-year-old son of one of her assistants, who lives at her residence.

According to that search warrant -- obtained by TMZ -- cops found a plethora of narcotics and drug paraphernalia both on Ruiz and in his room ... along with boxes of .22 caliber bullets.

Cops searched Ruiz's pants and allegedly found 1.3 grams of fentanyl powder, a Xanax pill, an unknown white pill, tin foil and a pink straw with brown residue.

Ruiz's room was then searched, where cops say they found 16 yellow pills marked "215," 2 pink pills marked "K40," 3 Suboxone strips, 4 fentanyl patches, 2 boxes of .22 caliber ammunition and a Gucci box containing burnt foil and a straw.

The ammo is interesting because as we reported, cops called in paramedics during the search ... anticipating things might turn violent.

According to the docs, cops had reason to believe Ruiz was selling narcotics and sold heroin to a Ventura County resident in September who overdosed and died ... which is why they got the search warrant.

Ruiz was arrested on a felony charge for supplying narcotics to someone who dies.

8:50 PM PT -- A spokesperson for Lil Peep's family denies Jones having any connection to the rapper.

6:57 PM PT -- In a joint statement to TMZ from Matt Miller (Wicca Phase Manager), Tom Chiari (Run For Cover Records) and Adam Mcillwee (Wicca Phase Springs Eternal) we're told "Michael Jones is not and has never been a member of Gothboiclique. Any statements to the contrary are 100% false."

Lil Peep's death was not a wake-up call to at least one of his fans, according to cops who arrested the guy for giving a young woman a fatal dose of drugs ... shortly after Peep's funeral.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the DEA, assisted by NYPD, arrested and charged Michael Jones Wednesday for distributing heroin and fentanyl. We're told the drugs resulted in the death of a woman named Diana Haikova.

Jones, who was part of Peep's group called Goth Boi Clique, was ID'd in a newly unsealed federal indictment.

Law enforcement sources say Jones and many other friends of Peep were in Long Island for his funeral on December 2, 2017. They partied in Manhattan for 3 days to honor their friend and on Dec. 5 we're told Mike met Diana -- who wasn't a member of the crew -- at a hotel party ... then allegedly gave her heroin and fentanyl back at her apartment.

Cops say she was found dead at her place a couple days later, and they believe Jones was the one who supplied the drugs. We're told an indictment against him also claims he distributed heroin a couple months later.

As you'll recall ... Peep died after overdosing on Xanax and fentanyl. Many other drugs were discovered in his system as well. He was only 21.

Rapper Dave East turned himself in for allegedly attacking a man leaving a party cruise ... TMZ has learned.

East surrendered to cops in NYC Tuesday morning and has been charged with misdemeanor assault ... according to law enforcement sources. The rapper's accused of punching 28-year-old Joel Rosario near Pier 40 back in July as he was leaving the cruise and walking along the marina of Hudson River Park.

Rosario claims he had no arguments or altercations with East on the cruise and has no idea why he was attacked. He was treated for a laceration above his left eye.

Our sources say Rosario didn't even know who East was -- police only ID'd the rapper after investigating the incident. East was charged and released. He's due back in court in December.