Drugs & Alcohol

Bethenny Frankel's boyfriend started the binge that killed him Thursday night and realized he was in trouble ... TMZ has learned.

Dennis Shields was found dead Friday in Trump Tower from an apparent oxycodone OD. Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, Dennis took an unknown quantity of oxycodone Rx pills Thursday night. He woke up Friday AM feeling ill and asked his housekeeper to go to the pharmacy to buy Narcan, which blocks the effects of an opioid overdose.

It's unclear when Dennis fell into a state of unconsciousness, but at some point the maid realized he was unresponsive and called 911. As we reported, the maid administered the Narcan but he remained unresponsive.

EMTs rushed to Trump Tower but it was too late.

Bethenny Frankel's on-again, off-again boyfriend, Dennis Shields, was found dead Friday of a suspected overdose ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ they got a call just after 9 AM for an unresponsive male. Upon arriving at Shields' Trump Tower apartment, they learned his assistant had administered Narcan but was unsuccessful in reviving him.

Our sources say they believe Shields OD'd on oxycodone ... but an autopsy is pending.

Frankel and Shields met nearly 30 years ago but didn't start dating until 2016. The relationship had many splits and makeups.

The New York Post first reported the death.

Ex-MLB All-Star pitcher Esteban Loaiza has formally pled guilty to felony cocaine possession with intent to distribute and now faces up to life in prison.

As we previously reported, the 46-year-old was arrested in San Diego back in February after officials said he was trying to move more than $500,000 in cocaine from a house located near a school.

Officials say Loaiza was using "sophisticated" smuggling devices to hide the 22 kilos of coke.

He initially pled not guilty -- but changed his plea. On Friday, he appeared in a San Diego federal courtroom to plead guilty to the charge.

Sentencing is scheduled for November 2 -- and he could face up to life in prison with a minimum of 10 years. He could also be deported to Mexico.

Former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich has been arrested in Germany after officials say the cyclist beat up a hooker in Frankfurt.

Yes. You read that correctly.

The 44-year-old -- who won the Tour back in 1997 -- allegedly had a dispute with a female sex worker at a hotel ... and the incident turned physical.

Officials say the woman suffered injuries in the attack and Ullrich could be charged with assault or attempted murder. Cops also suspect he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Demi Lovato left her rehab facility Thursday and flew to Chicago, but we've learned the trip was organized by doctors and designed to make her sober and healthy.

Sources with firsthand knowledge tell us, Demi and her mom landed in Chicago on a private jet at 2 AM Friday. We're told she's there to see a psychiatrist who specializes in mental health, sobriety and overall wellness.

Our sources say Demi will be in Chicago for several days for treatment, and then she'll fly back to reenter the rehab facility where she's been since last Saturday.

Our sources say the rehab facility recommended that Demi see the specialist in Chicago, and she jumped at it.

TMZ broke the story ... Demi almost died after OD'ing last month.

We're told she's fully committed to getting better.

President Trump's plan for an upcoming U.S. Space Force isn't just major news for the military ... it could be a huge windfall for beer and computer game producers too.

TMZ has learned the term "Space Force" has been quite popular, long before the Prez uttered the words for his proposed 6th branch of the military ... by makers of an arcade game, among others, that trademarked it in the '80s.

That game fizzled out and the trademark expired but, years later in 2014 ... a company filed paperwork for the rights to "SPACEFORCE" (one word) for online computer games and interactive educational games in the field of physics. According to the docs ... they've had the trademark on lockdown since 2015.

Then, after Trump first announced his Space Force idea in March, a shrewd business person jumped on the chance to own the rights to the name ... for beer.

According to legal docs, trademark paperwork for "Space Force" has also been filed as recently as June to make action figures and accessories.

Obviously, if these trademarks go through, the owners are set to benefit from the name recognition of the government's new military service ... which Mike Pence says will be created by 2020.

Henry Nicholas III -- the billionaire co-founder of tech giant Broadcom -- was arrested after cops say they found cases of hard drugs in his Las Vegas hotel room, and his mug shot kinda says it all.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... Nicholas couldn't get into his room at the Encore Tuesday and when security assisted, they discovered his girlfirend, Ashley Fargo, was unresponsive with a semi-deflated balloon in her mouth.

We're told paramedics responded and revived Fargo, but security began questioning Nicholas about the balloon and canisters, which he admitted were nitrous oxide.

Our sources say security also noticed 2 cases in the room which needed to be inspected per hotel rules ... because they looked like the kind used to carry weapons.

Instead of weapons, Vegas PD found one case full of marijuana and another full of what appeared to be narcotics. The couple was arrested and booked for felony drug trafficking of multiple controlled substances ... including heroin, cocaine, meth and MDMA. Some of the pills were stamped with Winnie the Pooh.

Nicholas, whose company manufactures semiconductors, has a history of serious legal issues. He faced felony securities fraud and drug distribution charges a decade ago, but they were later dropped.

Fargo is the ex-wife of a Wells Fargo heir, Brian Fargo.

It's becoming more clear now that Demi Lovato will be in treatment for a lengthy period of time ... canceling the remaining shows on her tour.

Demi's Tell Me You Love Me tour dates in Mexico and South America have been scrapped. The news comes on the heels of Demi leaving Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in L.A. just days ago and jetting outside of California to a rehab facility.

The singer was scheduled to perform September 20 and 22 in Mexico but those dates have been canceled. Also canceled is her 6-city tour in Chile, Argentina and Brazil slated for November.

Live Nation and Lotus Productions "wish Demi Lovato the best now and in the future and we hope to see her soon in South America." Refunds will be made available beginning Friday.

TMZ broke the story ... Demi's entered rehab at one of the nation's leading facilities for addiction.

"Superman" actress Margot Kidder died from an intentional drug and alcohol overdose ... according to the Coroner's Office.

The Park County Coroner says Kidder's overdose was self-inflicted. TMZ broke the story ... Kidder, who played Lois Lane in the '70s and '80s "Superman" movies, was found May 13 in her Livingston, MT home. The Coroner has not specified what drugs she took.

Her daughter, Maggie McGuane, told the AP the family wanted to be "open and honest" about the suicide to avoid any "cloud of shame."

Antonio Callaway had gun parts and ammunition in his car (in addition to weed) when he was pulled over in Ohio ... and the police video obtained by TMZ Sports shows it made the lead officer get "real nervous."

The Cleveland Browns rookie WR -- selected in the 4th round of the 2018 NFL Draft -- was pulled over on August 5 at 2:59 AM in Strongsville, Ohio for a routine traffic violation.

The cop smelled weed and searched the car -- finding a small amount of marijuana under the driver's seat ... along with the backstrap of a Glock firearm and several rounds of ammo.

You can see the officer gets very serious when he finds the bullets and gun parts -- ordering Callaway to put his hands in the air and stay put.

Antonio told the officer there was NO gun in the car -- just the parts. The officer eventually verified Callaway's claim, but admits to his partner he got anxious when he found the bullets.

In the end, the officer realizes Antonio is a Cleveland Browns player and admitted he felt bad busting him ... since he didn't appear drunk or high and was super polite during the arrest.

At one point, the officer admits he's excited to watch Callaway play -- saying he's "fast as sh*t."

Shaun Weiss -- who played Goldberg in "The Mighty Ducks" -- has been in a downward spiral for years, according to a longtime friend who is worried about the former child star's fate.

The friend, Marni Gairhan, has known Shaun for more than 13 years, and she tells us Weiss has battled substance abuse issues and picked the wrong crowd to hang with for way too long.

Following Shaun's public intoxication bust over the weekend, friends of the actor feel it's time to push him towards rehab. They fear for Shaun's life and believe he's hit rock bottom -- as his mug shot clearly shows.

Shaun's downward spiral dates back to the death of his father 3 years ago, Marni says. Since then, Weiss has been arrested for possession of meth and sentenced to 150 days in jail for stealing -- on top of last weekend's trip to the drunk tank.

Shaun found steady work after the 3 'Ducks' movies, but it's been a couple of years since his last acting gig. He would tell friends he was working on different projects, but no one ever saw the finished products.

After finding Shaun sleeping on her porch one night last year, Marni decided it was time to contact his niece. Weiss didn't like that, Marni says, and he began to distance himself from his friends.

Still, Marni wants Shaun to get help and she's started a GoFundMe to pay for his rehab.

Who needs CSI when you have the Internet?

The cops who arrested NASCAR honcho Brian France found 5 oxycodone pills on him during the bust and used the website Drugs.com to identity them ... this according to court docs obtained by TMZ Sports.

The Sag Harbor PD says the pills -- yellow in color, labeled T194 -- came right up on the website ... which touts its "pill identifier" feature on the home page.

Don't worry, the cops also submitted the pills to the lab for confirmation.

There's more ... cops say France's blood alcohol level was .19 -- more than twice the legal limit in New York when he was busted at 7:08 PM on Sunday.

During the arrest, France had slurred speech, glassy eyes and was unsteady on his feet.

France was booked for drunk driving and criminal possession of a controlled substance.

If convicted on both counts, he faces up to a year in jail and loss of driving privileges for a year.

Brian France -- CEO and chairman of NASCAR -- says he will be taking an indefinite leave of absence after his DUI and oxycodone arrest.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... France was busted in the Hamptons on Sunday evening. Cops say he was drunk and illegally in possession of prescription oxycodone pills.

France -- widely considered one of the most powerful people in pro sports -- has issued a statement apologizing.

"I apologize to our fans, our industry and my family for the impact of my actions [Sunday] night. Effective immediately, I will be taking an indefinite leave of absence from my position to focus on my personal affairs."

NASCAR says Brian's uncle, Jim France, has "assumed the role of interim chairman and chief executive officer."

Story developing ...

9:54 AM PT -- NASCAR has issued a statement to TMZ Sports saying ... "We are aware of an incident that occurred last night and are in the process of gathering information."

"We take this as a serious matter and will issue a statement after we have all of the facts.”

Brian France -- the CEO and Chairman of NASCAR -- was arrested for DUI on Sunday evening in The Hamptons and cops say he was also in possession of oxycodone .. TMZ Sports has learned.

The 56-year-old -- one of the most powerful people in professional sports -- was initially stopped in Sag Harbor, NY while driving a 2017 Lexus. Cops say he blew through a stop sign at 7:30 PM.

During the stop, we're told officers suspected France was intoxicated and conducted a field sobriety test ... which France bombed.

We're told France's blood alcohol level was more than TWICE the legal limit. Cops say during the stop, they found oxycodone pills during a search of his person.

France was arrested and hauled to a nearby station where he was booked for DUI and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the 7th degree. France spent the night in jail and was released Monday morning after his arraignment.

And sources tell us ... during the process, France was name-dropping all of the powerful people he knew and even mentioned his relationship with President Donald Trump.

The France family is racing royalty -- Brian's grandfather Bill France Sr. (aka Big Bill) founded NASCAR back in 1948 and ran the organization. Brian's father took over the role from 1972 to 2000.

Brian has been CEO since 2003.

Sag Harbor is one of the most exclusive communities in the Hamptons -- where stars like Billy Joel have homes.

And, as one local puts it, "It's so stupid to drive drunk in the Hamptons. They have police checkpoints everywhere and police are always looking for drunk drivers."

Story developing ...

Demi Lovato is getting treatment at a rehab facility where she will remain for an extended period of time ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to Lovato tell us she was discharged from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in L.A. Saturday and took a private plane to the facility, which is outside California.

The rehab center is one of the nation's leading facilities for addiction.

TMZ broke the story ... Lovato's team has a plan set in place to scrub the negative people and "yes men" who contributed to Demi's downhill spiral. We're told they enabled her and fueled her addiction for months before the OD that almost killed her.

Demi addressed the OD for the first time Sunday, saying, "I have always been transparent about my journey with addiction. What I've learned is that this illness is not something that disappears or fades with time. It is something I must continue to overcome and have not done yet."

Demi Lovato's team is hell-bent on getting her back to good health and keeping her there ... which is why they plan to help her weed out all of her bad influences.

Sources close to Demi tell us ... there will be a major focus on separating her from toxic people in her life once she gets out of rehab -- including even a distant relative who is believed to have a negative impact on her.

We're told Demi's camp held a meeting this week to discuss sweeping out anyone who doesn't have her best interests in mind ... and decided any partymongers, drug users, or "yes" friends who allow her to get in harm's way won't be tolerated. BTW, we're told one friend in particular is on the hit list.

Our sources say Demi will also be advised to get a new phone number and only give it out to trusted advisers and friends ... and keep negative people at bay.

We broke the story ... Demi's agreed to go to rehab as soon as she's out of the hospital and already has plans with the live-in facility set up.