Drugs & Alcohol

Demi Lovato's near-death OD began at 4 AM July 24, when she texted a drug dealer to come to her house ... sources tell TMZ.

Sources with direct knowledge tell us, Demi had been at a party in WeHo following a birthday celebration at Saddle Ranch on the Sunset Strip. After the drug dealer got the text, he came to her house and we're told the 2 of them freebased Oxycodone on tin foil.

Our sources say unbeknownst to Demi, the drug dealer had a bad habit of buying dirty drugs from Mexico ... and the batch in question appeared to be laced with fentanyl -- that's the same drug that killed Prince and Lil Peep.

We're told the dealer fled her home when he noticed she was in bed, breathing very heavily.

Our sources say Demi had been using the dealer since April.

TMZ broke the story ... someone on Demi's staff found her around 11:30 AM on the 24th. She had to be revived with Narcan.

Demi was hospitalized for 2 weeks and then went to an out-of-state rehab facility. Last Friday, she and her mom flew to Chicago for a few days where she received treatment from a renowned addiction specialist.

YG was flying high even before his flight left the gate ... at least according to American Airlines, which promptly kicked his allegedly drunken ass off the plane.

YG boarded the LAX to JFK flight Monday night, but wasn't there long. The rapper was pissed off as he made that long, lonely and embarrassing walk back down the jetway. He said, "F**k American Airlines! They said I'm drunk. I'm sober than a muthaf***a!"

American tells TMZ ... YG was indeed kicked off "due to being intoxicated." After seeing his video, though, AA tried to slide into his DMs.

As he made his exit, YG made it clear he thinks this was less about booze, and more about FWB. He blurted, "Racist ass muthaf***as. I'm sober!!"

Nick Cannon promises his new show about the Bay Area will be dripping in authenticity 'cause he's got Oakland legends, E-40 and Too Short, on board as producers.

Nick tells TMZ he's psyched about his drama crime series, "The Yay Area," because it's going to chronicle Northern California's drug culture, and its connection to Silicon Valley, biker gangs and even the Black Panthers.

Nick's thinking "The Wire" meets "The Sopranos" -- and now that he has Short and 40 involved, he thinks things will move quickly. We're told several networks are interested, and Nick's sinking tons of his own dough into it.

Dak Prescott's father was arrested for possession of marijuana over the weekend in Texas ... where he was forced to pose for a mug shot.

For weed.

57-year-old Nathaniel Prescott was driving on Highway 87 in Orange County, TX -- about an hour and a half outside of Houston -- when he was stopped for a traffic violation.

During the stop, troopers discovered weed (less than 2 grams!) in the driver's side door of his Cadillac Escalade and arrested Prescott for misdemeanor possession ... a Class B offense.

Prescott was hauled to a nearby station where he was booked and posed for a mug shot. He was eventually released on $500 bond, according to KFDM's Peter Eliopoulos, who broke the story.

FYI, recreational weed is legal in 9 states. Medical is legal in 30 states.

10:07 AM PT -- Bethenny just posted a photo of Dennis lying beside her dog, Cookie, with a farewell message to both, saying ... "Rest In Peace my sweet babies who gave me endless unconditional love." Cookie died late last year after suffering a major seizure.

Bethenny Frankel was extremely emotional Monday during a final goodbye to her boyfriend, who died Friday of an overdose.

Dennis Shields was found dead in his apartment in Trump Tower from an apparent oxycodone OD. Law enforcement sources told us Dennis took an unknown quantity of oxy Thursday night which he had prescribed to him. He woke up Friday feeling ill and asked his housekeeper to go to the pharmacy and buy Narcan -- which counters the effects of opioids. When the housekeeper returned home, Dennis was beyond help.

Action Bronson was arrested Saturday in Kosovo after lighting up a joint on stage and hurling it into the crowd.

The Queens New York rapper was performing at the Sunny Hill festival when he crossed the line with weed. It didn't amuse cops -- at all -- and he was arrested right at the venue.

The video (below) is probably all prosecutors will need, because you see the rapper spark as plain as day.

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."