Crime

A former Rhode Island mayoral candidate wasn't very diplomatic toward a cop during a recent traffic stop — calling the officer a "d--k" while dropping the ol', "Do you know who I am?" line.

It all started on December 18 ... Maria Bucci, the current chair of the Cranston Democratic City Committee, was pulled over by a police officer in East Greenwich, RI, and the situation quickly turned ugly.

Making matters worse, the officer switched on his bodycam, capturing every moment of Bucci's terrible attitude. As you can see, Bucci was difficult right from the start, making faces at the officer as he tells her she smells like booze and was driving erratically.

Bucci then told the cop to stop embarrassing her and her friend, who was with her. After the cop says he's just doing his job, Bucci did her, "Do you know who I am" routine.

The cop says he doesn't know her, and then warns her not to name drop because it's not going to work with him.

The body of a 9-year-old California girl has been found two months after she vanished during an impromptu mother-daughter trip ... leading to the arrest of her mother.

Authorities say Melodee Buzzard’s body was found in Utah earlier this month, and her mother, Ashlee Buzzard, was taken into custody Tuesday in connection with the child’s death.

Officials confirmed Melodee was found in an area she had traveled to with her mom back in October ... and investigators believe she was killed there before her disappearance made headlines, KABC-TV reports.

2:09 PM PT -- Russell Brand is seemingly addressing the new charges against him in a video he just uploaded on social media.

In the selfie video, Russell says ... "This is a time of great darkness, a time of confusion and dispute and conflict, but I have learned in my own life that attack can bring about grace."

He adds ... "I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to atone for the many things over the years I did wrong, and the opportunity for the people to understand the truth of my situation."

10:27 AM PT -- A rep for Kevin Spacey tells TMZ ... “The 2002 trip to Africa with President Clinton to support AIDS causes and meet Nelson Mandela remains a genuine highlight in Kevin’s life. The fact that the plane was owned by Jeffrey Epstein is immaterial considering it was three years before Epstein was ever investigated. Whatever wrongdoing may have been taking place in the background has nothing to do with Kevin, any more than a hotel guest is responsible for actions occurring in a neighboring room. Kevin never saw or spoke to Jeffrey Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell ever again.”

Kevin Spacey -- who vehemently called for the release of the Epstein Files this summer -- has been included in the trove of pics just released today.

In the image released by the U.S. Department of Justice ... the "American Beauty" star leans on the back of a chair alongside Bill Clinton, appearing to be in mid-conversation. They're standing in a room before a conference table littered with pads and writing utensils, suggesting they're preparing for a meeting of some sort.

According to CNN, the pic was taken inside the Cabinet Room of the Churchill War Rooms -- which is an underground bunker in London.

Clinton reportedly took Epstein's private jet on a humanitarian trip to Africa with Spacey in 2002.

One of the men convicted in the 2002 killing of RUN-DMC's DJ, Jam Master Jay, just had his murder conviction overturned last week -- a big surprise for Darryl McDaniels!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with the legendary DMC walking our way in New York City on Monday, and he didn't even let us finish our sentence ... he had just heard the news!!!

On Friday, a U.S. District Judge granted Karl Jordan Jr. an acquittal on the murder charges handed down in Feb. 2024, citing an overall lack of evidence.

Kyle Chrisley, the son of "Chrisley Knows Best" stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, has been arrested in Tennessee on an array of charges -- including assault.

He was picked up by the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office Saturday night around 7 PM, and booked into the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center later that night, TMZ has learned. His charges include domestic assault, public intoxication, disorderly conduct, 3 charges for assaulting a first responder, and resisting arrest.

He also has 3 charges for retaliation for past actions, which means he may have harmed or threatened an individual in connection to their former actions against him. The sheriff's office was unable to share further details about the exact circumstances of his charges.

Suffice to say, Jeffrey Epstein should never have been allowed to be around children ... but, as these Department of Justice photos show, the pedophile was having a good time with someone who appears to be a kid.

Check 'em out ... The grainy pics capture Epstein sitting on a floor while acting playfully toward someone who looks like a minor. The DOJ redacted the person's image and did not provide their age or gender, so we can't know for sure, but there are some clues.

In one pic, you see Epstein staring at the person who appears to be an adolescent. Another photo shows Epstein leaning in and making a face at the youngster. In another image, Epstein is peering down at the youth with a slight grin. In other photos, it appears a youngster is sitting on his lap. See it all for yourself.

Days after Isaiah Rider said he was prepared to go to court to deal with a protective order put in place by his wife … TMZ Sports has learned the former NBA hooper was arrested for failure to appear at his court date.

According to court documents we obtained, Isaiah was not present at the hearing earlier this week to determine whether the order should remain in effect. The docs say his wife, Vanessa, did attend the hearing ... and the judge signed off on keeping the order in place.

Law enforcement in Arizona says the no-show landed the former NBA star in cuffs, telling us, "An individual named Isaiah Rider was arrested earlier today on a warrant for failing to appear at a court hearing on December 15."

"He was booked and processed at the Gilbert-Chandler Unified Holding Facility."

Isaiah's attorney, Benjamin Taylor, told us his client is not going to comment further on the matter ... but the former Laker previously told us he believes his ex is only going through with the protective order because he is moving forward with their divorce.

Walter Cronkite, who was once regarded as "the most trusted man in America" when he was anchoring the evening news on CBS, is pictured with Jeffrey Epstein in new photos released by the feds.

The photos show the legendary newsman -- who anchored such historical events as the JFK assassination and moon landing -- sitting in a room with Epstein and an unidentified man. Walter is leaning forward in an armchair, talking with Epstein and the other guy, who is seated on a couch.

In between the men is a tray of food and drink and a bunch of magazines spread out across some ottomans.

There is nothing risqué or questionable going on ... and no one else is in the photos.

Bombshells will likely be cropping up for days after a massive dump of Epstein Files began to be released Friday ... and now we have some high-profile names never-before associated with the disgraced financier.

In a new pic released by the U.S. Department of Justice ... Michael Jackson and Diana Ross are pictured on a plane with Bill Clinton and another person whose face is redacted.

It's not known whose plane they were on or where they were going.

While Diana and Bill flash smiles, Michael stares blankly with Bill's hand draped over the King Of Pop's shoulder.

Jeffrey Epstein framed nude photos of Ghislaine Maxwell and other women and displayed them inside his Palm Beach home ... and you see his overly-sexual interior decorating on full display, and new video from inside his pedophile lair.

The video is part of the Epstein Files release, and the grainy, old school footage is a tour through his Florida home ... it's like "MTV Cribs" but with a convicted pedophile.

Epstein's got a framed photo of Ghislaine on a beach, plus other nudes of some females who look like models. There's even a miniature replica of his plane, the Lolita Express.

Strangely, there appears to be a dental chair and equipment in one of the rooms ... similar to what we saw on his private island.

Never-before-seen photos show late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein in his element ... snuggling up to a very young-looking female on a sofa.

The images are from the Epstein Files being released by the U.S. Department of Justice ... and there are several photos showing Epstein cozying up to an unidentified female on a couch ... it's unclear if she's underage.

Epstein has his arms around her, and they are horizontal, side by side on a couch ... wearing clothes. Her face has been redacted to protect her identity, indicating the government considers her a victim.

Nick Reiner is spending his days in an L.A. jail, dealing with the aftermath of the violent murders of his parents, and he's not been able to fully process it ... TMZ has learned.

A source with direct knowledge tells TMZ ... Nick is not reeling in grief. Rather, he's "in a fog"  ... in no small part due to his medical condition and the meds he's taking.

Our source goes on to characterize Nick as "calm," "cognizant," and "dazed" -- adding Nick isn't even close to processing what happened.

TMZ broke the story ... Nick had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. In the weeks leading up to the murders, we're told he was out of control. Our sources characterized Nick as "erratic" and "dangerous." As we reported, he was recently treated at an L.A.-based rehab facility that specializes in mental health and substance abuse and was under the care of a psychiatrist.

Nick Reiner was an unsolvable dilemma for his parents ... so says a substance abuse treatment expert.

Nick Mathews -- the founder and CEO of Southern California-based treatment center Stillwater Behavioral Health -- joined us on "TMZ Live," and we asked him about Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner's son, who is charged with their murders.

For Mathews, Nick presented a treatment provider's worst nightmare ... he was diagnosed with schizophrenia, but had been in and out of rehab for years and struggled with substance abuse.

Just listen to Mathews explain all the challenges Nick would present for the rehab centers and doctors tasked with treating him ... there's no quick, easy fix or even a cut-and-dry solution here.

Former NFL player Myles Jack was arrested after a bizarre incident at a home in Texas on Tuesday ... when cops say the linebacker broke out of a second-story window and fell to the ground before being taken into custody.

According to the Frisco Police Department, officers responded to a welfare concern around 5:40 AM ... and when they got to the scene, gunshots were heard inside the residence.

Officers established a perimeter and evacuated other homes in the area ... and said at one point in the incident, they observed a man later identified as 30-year-old Jack break a window, climb out, and plummet to the ground.

Tory Lanez is focused on being released from prison after 3 years into his 10-year sentence for his involvement in the 2022 Megan Thee Stallion shooting case ... because he believes there's new evidence to free him!!!

The embattled "Color Violent" artist gave his first broadcast interview from prison to NBC News this week and maintained his innocence ... citing the newly surfaced evidence is “overwhelming."

The evidence stems from Megan's recent defamation trial against blogger Milagro Gramz ... Tory is seeking the bullet fragments from the shooting that were never turned over, and Megan's medical records -- after Gramz's attorney discovered a document that wasn't originally identified in the 2022 trial.