'Anchorman' Star David Koechner Hit With DUI, Hit-And-Run Charges ... Following NYE Arrest
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"Anchorman" star David Koechner has been charged with DUI and hit-and-run ... following his arrest on New Year's Eve that had him ringing in the new year behind bars.
The Ventura County DA's office tells us ... they've charged the actor with one count of DUI and one count of hit-and-run -- both charges are misdemeanors.
We're told Koechner's case is due in court in a few weeks, and each count carries a possible penalty of up to 6 months behind bars. The reality ... first-time offenders almost never do time, so he'll almost certainly get probation and a mandatory alcohol ed course.
As we reported ... police were tipped off after they got a call that an erratic driver allegedly hit a street sign with his car. Cops found him and say he failed the field sobriety test. He was arrested and booked into the Ventura County Jail.
Koechner was out pumping gas a few days after his arrest -- and there was visible damage to the car, although it wasn't confirmed if this was the same car he was driving when he was arrested.
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'90 Day Fiance' Ben Rathbun Busted for Drunk Driving Probation Violation
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10:11 AM PT -- Turns out Rathbun's OUI and suspended license arrest was back in 2020, but he was sentenced in January 2021 to 18 months probation. We're told Rathbun was scheduled for a probation violation hearing on Feb 7, 2022 ... but he did not appear and the judge issued a bench warrant.
We're told Tuesday's booking was an arrest stemming from the bench warrant linked to the original OUI case.
"90 Day Fiance" star Ben Rathbun is spending time behind bars after getting busted for drunk driving in Michigan.
According to online records ... Rathbun was booked early Tuesday morning for OUI (operating while under the influence of alcohol) and driving with a suspended license.
Details of what led up to Ben's arrest are currently unclear, but records indicate his bond has been set at $10,000.
Ben's story on season 5 of '90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days' has been an interesting one ... the 52-year-old father of 4 met his 22-year-old girl friend, Mahogany, online. Many believed Mahogany -- who hails from South America -- was catfishing Ben ... but when they actually met, it turned out she was the real deal.
Unclear if Mahogany was with Ben, or even in the country at the time of his arrest, but reports as recent as last month say the two are still dating.
Originally Published -- 7:55 AM PT
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Jonathan Rhys Meyers Cops Plea Deal in DUI Case
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Jonathan Rhys Meyers has cut a deal in his DUI case ... and he's going to get the same treatment as an average Joe -- no jail time, as long as he keeps his nose clean.
According to new legal docs obtained by TMZ ... the actor copped a plea deal and was sentenced to 1-year summary probation. He'll pay a $500 fine and must complete an alcohol ed and counseling program.
TMZ broke the story ... Jonathan was arrested for misdemeanor DUI back in November 2020, after cops said he crashed his car in Malibu.
JRM was eventually hit with 3 charges — 2 DUI-related charges and 1 for reckless driving. As part of the deal, he ended up pleading no contest to the reckless driving charge, and the other two charges were dropped.
Jonathan's struggled with substance abuse problems over the years, going to rehab several times.
Good luck to Jonathan.
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Henry Ruggs Friends Could Have Stopped Crash ... Says Nick Saban
Nick Saban brought up former Alabama star Henry Ruggs in an emotional speech last month ... saying if Ruggs' friends were better leaders, they could have prevented his tragic accident.
Saban led a discussion at the Alabama Football Coaches Association convention ... and at one point, explained how players care "more than ever before" about what others think of them -- and how it's affecting their opportunities to be a role model.
The Crimson Tide coach used two examples to get his point across -- one being Ruggs' serious fatal DUI crash in November, in which 23-year-old Tina Tintor died.
"Well, if there was a player in Las Vegas who was drinking at 3 o'clock in the morning with his buddies and his girlfriend and somebody would have taken his keys away," Saban said, "[it] probably would have pissed him off, probably would have made him mad. [He] probably wouldn't have thought very much of you for doing that."
"But would he be better off now, or is he better off where he was going 156 MPH and running into the ass-end of somebody and killing 'em?"
Saban explains Ruggs had zero issues in Tuscaloosa and is a "good kid" ... but now, his career is in jeopardy and he faces a mountain of legal issues.
While he's not saying Ruggs wasn't responsible for his own decisions, it's clear Saban believes someone close to him could have helped during a moment of weakness.
"So what kinda friend were you?" Saban asked. "What kinda leader were you when you allowed the guy to do it? But nobody wants to do it because they're afraid of what somebody's gonna think of you."
Saban's quotes are getting mixed reviews on social media -- with some saying it's Ruggs' fault and his alone, and others claiming the coach is spreading invaluable knowledge.
As for Ruggs, he's facing 5 charges for his alleged role in the crash ... and could face a ton of time behind bars if convicted.
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'Tiger King' JEFF LOWE & WIFE COP PLEA DEALS Close Out Drunk Driving Cases
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'Tiger King' star Jeff Lowe and his wife just copped plea deals in their drunk driving case ... and they will NOT serve any time behind bars.
Prosecutors in Oklahoma tell TMZ ... Jeff and Lauren Lowe each pled no contest to a misdemeanor charge of DWI and will pay a fine and court costs to put the incident behind them.
We're told there will be no jail time or probation for either Jeff or Lauren ... with prosecutors saying this is a typical outcome for these types of cases in Oklahoma City.
TMZ broke the story ... Jeff and Lauren were busted back in June after cops pulled them over in a white Range Rover. Police said they were both driving before the bust, which is why both were ultimately hit with the charge.
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.
The Lowe's defense attorney, Joshua C. Smith, tells TMZ ... the couple is happy with the outcome of the case, while admitting to making some mistakes that night.
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'American Idol' Caleb Kennedy Busted for DUI In Fatal Accident
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9:38 AM PT -- 2/9 -- Caleb had his first court appearance Wednesday, a judge decided to hold him without bond.
Caleb Kennedy -- a finalist on the last season of "American Idol" - was arrested Tuesday for felony DUI ... cops say he crashed his car into a building, killing someone inside.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol tells TMZ ... Caleb was behind the wheel of a 2011 Ford pickup truck when the vehicle struck a building on a private drive.
Police say there was a person inside the building who sustained fatal injuries as a result of a collision. Caleb was arrested and charged with felony DUI resulting in death ... and the 17-year-old is still in police custody.
As you can see, photos from the crash scene show a truck lodged into what appears to be a detached garage ... and there's a ton of damage.
SCHP says the crash is under investigation.
You'll recall ... Caleb was one of the final 5 contestants last year on 'Idol' but he exited the show when a video surfaced showing him sitting next to someone wearing a Ku Klux Klan-like hood.
Before his unceremonious exit, Caleb wowed 'Idol' judges and fans with his rendition of Coldplay's hit, "Violet Hill," in what ended up being his final performance on the show.
Originally Published -- 2/8 5:44 PM PT
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Univ. Of Alabama's Pete Golding Defensive Coordinator Arrested For DUI
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Pete Golding -- the defensive coordinator for the Univ. of Alabama football team -- was arrested early Thursday morning for DUI ... TMZ Sports has confirmed.
A spokesperson for the Northport Police Department in Alabama tells us Golding -- real name Stephen Thomas Golding -- was arrested at around 1 AM.
According to the rep, Golding was pulled over on suspicion of DUI ... and "probable cause was found" to arrest him. Jail records show he's still in custody.
Further details surrounding the arrest were not made available.
Golding has been on Nick Saban's staff at Bama since the 2018 season. He was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2019 -- and helped lead the Tide to the National Championship games in the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
Golding is considered an ace recruiter who helped Bama land the #2 recruiting class in the country on Wednesday's National Signing Day.
Alabama officials have yet to comment on the arrest.
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Raiders' Nate Hobbs DB Was Under Legal Limit In DUI Arrest ... Prosecutors Say
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9:49 AM PT -- Hobbs' attorneys, David Z. Chesnoff and Richard A. Schonfeld, tell TMZ Sports ... "Since Mr. Hobbs did not violate the DUI laws he was not charged, nor will he be charged with a DUI offense."
"He will fulfill his court obligations for the careless driving traffic offense," they added.
Big break for Nate Hobbs in his DUI case ... prosecutors say toxicology results revealed the Raiders player was UNDER the legal limit of .08 following his arrest earlier this month.
The Clark County District Attorney's Office made the announcement Wednesday ... saying blood analysis following Hobbs' Jan. 3 arrest in Las Vegas showed "Hobbs was under the legal limit for a DUI charge."
Prosecutors say as a result of the tests ... they did not pursue a DUI charge against Hobbs, and instead, they say the NFL cornerback ended up pleading guilty to a misdemeanor careless driving charge.
Prosecutors said in a statement they hit Hobbs with that charge after they say he fell asleep at the wheel of his car in an exit lane of a parking garage at a Vegas hotel -- just hours after Hobbs and the Raiders beat the Colts in Indianapolis.
Prosecutors say as part of Hobbs' guilty plea, he agreed to "pay a $685 fine, complete a victim impact panel, and complete 20 hours of community service."
The prosecutors added that if Hobbs does not complete the requirements, he faces a 30-day jail sentence.
"After reviewing the facts of the case, and the fact that the result of the blood-alcohol test placed Mr. Hobbs under the legal limit for a DUI charge, my office determined that this was the most appropriate disposition in this case," Clark County D.A. Steve Wolfson said in a statement.
"Mr. Hobbs' case will progress through the normal channels of the justice system, as would any other case with similar circumstances."
Wolfson added, "Additionally, he will be submitting to an alcohol treatment program provided by the National Football League and the NFL Players' Association."
Hobbs -- who played in the Raiders' playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals days after the arrest -- is due back in court for a hearing on the matter in March.
Originally Published -- 9:30 AM PT
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Tiffany Haddish Addresses DUI Bust with Fallon ... My Prayers Were Answered
Tiffany Haddish is laughing off her DUI -- well, sorta ... let's just say she's taking it in stride.
The comedian gave a little insight into what happened -- from her perspective, anyway -- during an appearance Monday on the 'Tonight Show' with Jimmy Fallon, to whom she described her Georgia bust with some humor to spare.
Jimmy asked if she was willing to talk about it, and sure enough, Tiffany was ... starting out the story by saying she'd been asking God for a new man in her life. Well, he answered her prayers, it seems, but might've overcompensated ... 'cause TH says she got more than she bargained for.
Instead of one man, Tiff says she was blessed with 4 ... and they were all in uniform -- which got a chuckle out of Fallon and the audience. She then says she's got a good lawyer and they're dealing with the sitch now, without elaborating much more about it.
TMZ broke the story ... Tiffany was arrested earlier this month when local residents in Peachtree City reported a driver who’d apparently fallen asleep on the side of the road. Cops eventually tracked down Tiffany's car, where they eventually got her in cuffs ... suspecting she'd been smoking weed. She was booked for DUI and improper stopping on a roadway.
The arrest follows Tiffany losing a number of friends and family, including her grandmother, her longtime producer, her dog and close comic pal Bob Saget.
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Garrett Hedlund Arrested for Public Intoxication
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11:21 AM PT -- A rep for Franklin County TN Jail tells TMZ ... Garrett has been released on a $2,100 bond. He's due back in court in March.
Garrett Hedlund is in custody after being arrested for public intoxication, TMZ has learned, and it's the latest in a series of problems the actor is facing.
The arrest went down in Franklin County in Tennessee Saturday night. Bond has been set at $2,100 for the misdemeanor arrest, and at the time this story went up he had not posted it.
The "Friday Night Lights" and "Troy" star has been going through it. He broke up with Emma Roberts just a few weeks ago. They had a child together back in December 2020 ... a son named Rhodes. The 2 began dating in 2019.
Garrett has had other legal issues as well. He's being sued for allegedly driving so drunk back in January 2020. He passed out and slammed into a Nissan carrying a woman and her 3 kids. He was arrested that same night for DUI and pled no contest to a DUI charge the following month. Garrett was placed on 3 years probation.
Typically one of the conditions of probation is that no laws can be broken, so the latest arrest may be problematic for him.
Originally Published -- 6:16 AM PT
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'TEEN MOM OG' STAR CHEYENNE FLOYD FIANCE BUSTED AFTER MEXICO VACATION ... Arrested on Warrants at LAX
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"Teen Mom OG" star Cheyenne Floyd and her fiancé had a rude awakening following a romantic getaway to Mexico ... her man got busted going through customs at LAX.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Zach Davis, who appears on the MTV show with Cheyenne, was taken into custody after customs agents discovered he had outstanding arrest warrants.
We're told Zach violated probation for cases involving theft and DUI ... and our sources say that's what triggered the warrants and ultimately led to his airport arrest.
Our sources say Zach was taken into custody Jan 3 ... he was booked, held briefly and then released.
Cheyenne and Zach share a newborn child together, and she obviously has a child from when she was younger ... remember, she's a "Teen Mom OG" ... and they were all down in Mexico livin' it up before the reality check at LAX.
We reached out to Cheyenne's team ... so far, no word back.
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Report: Nate Hobbs Busted For Driving 110 MPH ... 2 Weeks After DUI Arrest
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More trouble for Nate Hobbs -- the Raiders rookie was busted for reportedly driving well over the speed limit on Sunday ... just 2 weeks after he was arrested for DUI.
TMZ Sports has confirmed ... the 22-year-old cornerback was cited for reckless driving on Jan. 16. According to 8 News Now, Nevada State Police Highway Patrol clocked him driving 110 miles per hour in a 65.
Hobbs was issued a citation ... and his car was reportedly towed from the scene.
We broke the story -- Hobbs was arrested for DUI around 4 AM on Jan. 3 ... just hours after the Raiders' road win over the Indianapolis Colts.
Cops say they found Hobbs passed out in his car in the exit ramp of a parking garage ... and claim he smelled like booze and had "glassy watery eyes."
Hobbs was arrested after cops claim he did not do well on field sobriety tests, but his attorneys released a statement saying there were serious concerns it did not qualify as a DUI under Nevada law based on the facts relayed by Vegas police.
Hobbs' recent run-ins with the law are obviously not the first time someone from this Raiders team has allegedly acted recklessly in a vehicle -- Henry Ruggs is accused of getting drunk, speeding in his car and then killing a woman and her dog in a wreck in Las Vegas in November.
Story developing ...
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Garrett Hedlund Sued You Crashed Into Our Car While Driving Drunk!!!
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Garrett Hedlund is still being haunted by his 2020 DUI bust ... because now he's facing a lawsuit from a family that claims he crashed into their car before being arrested.
According to a lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, the family members -- a mother and her 3 children -- claim they were riding in a Nissan Sentra when Garrett passed out drunk behind the wheel of his Jeep, ran a red light and slammed into them.
In the docs, the family claims the "Troy" actor was driving at a high rate of speed and was over twice the legal limit for alcohol at the time of the crash. They also claim he tried to flee the scene after the accident and didn't call an ambulance for them.
The mom says she and her 3 children were eventually transported to different hospitals after sustaining injuries in the Jan. 24, 2020 crash.
Garrett was arrested for DUI that same night and court records show he pled no contest to a DUI charge in Feb. 2020, and was sentenced to 3 years probation.
The family is suing Garrett for damages.
We reached out to Garrett's camp ... so far, no word back.
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Tiffany Haddish Arrested for DUI ... Allegedly Asleep at Wheel
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Tiffany Haddish is facing a DUI charge after cops say she was dozing in the driver's seat of her vehicle early Friday morning in Georgia ... TMZ has learned.
Law enforcement tells us Tiffany was arrested by Peachtree City PD officers around 4 AM ET. Although she was getting booked for DUI, the comedian still managed to smile for the camera when cops snapped her mug shot.
Cops were responding to a call for a driver who'd fallen asleep at the wheel. Officers had a description of the vehicle and were on the lookout for it when they spotted Tiffany pulling into a neighborhood.
They stopped her and arrested her for DUI and improper stopping on a roadway. Cops believe she'd smoked marijuana.
Tiffany was only in police custody for a few hours. According to records, obtained by TMZ, she posted $1,666 to bond out of jail around 6:30 AM.
We've reached out to Tiffany's reps for comment, but no word back yet.
Obviously, it's no excuse for driving impaired ... but we do know Tiffany's been dealing with a lot of loss lately. Sources connected tell us her grandmother, who raised her, recently died -- as did her dog, and her close friends Bob Saget and producer Carl Craig.
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Police: Geno Smith Told Officer He Had 'A Little D***' & Threatened Cops ... During DUI Arrest
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Geno Smith was allegedly a huge jerk during his arrest on Monday ... with cops saying he threatened them and even told one, "you have a little d**k."
Washington State Patrol officers spelled out the allegations in new police documents, obtained by TMZ Sports, claiming the Seattle Seahawks quarterback was combative and argumentative with them through much of the process of his arrest.
In the docs, cops say they pulled over Smith at around 2 AM in King County -- just hours after Seattle finished beating the Cardinals in Arizona on Sunday -- after they claim they clocked his Rolls Royce going 96 MPH in a 60 MPH zone.
Officers say Smith was also driving erratically and changing lanes without signaling ... and during questioning, they say he reeked of booze.
Cops say Smith told them he had consumed wine before getting behind the wheel -- and then became upset with them during ensuing field sobriety tests.
Geno Smith led a 98-yard drive and was 5/5 for 72 yards and a TD on his first drive.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 8, 2021 @MySportsUpdate
Of course. pic.twitter.com/wBaRCl7P6M
In the docs, officers say Smith argued with them ... and eventually decided to stop doing the tests altogether. That's when cops say they arrested him and took him back to the station -- where they claim he made a comment about a cop's penis size.
One of the officers wrote in the docs, "I joked with him about how my wife thinks I work too much. Somehow he said that's because 'you have a little d***.'"
"I said, wow, maybe that is the problem, then he said you have a little d***, 'you have little d*** syndrome.'"
Cops say Smith ultimately refused to take a breath test, so they took him from there to the hospital to have his blood drawn.
But while at the medical facility, they say the 31-year-old refused to have his blood taken and then became enraged.
"I'll f*** every one of y'all up," one officer says Smith told them.
Another officer said Smith told them, "you don't want to see me out of these cuffs, you don't want to know what will happen."
Officers say they eventually had to put restraints on Smith's arms and legs in order to take his blood ... and claim the entire time Smith said, "that we were going to regret this and that we would all be famous for this."
After the blood was successfully taken, cops say they took Smith back to the station and booked him on a DUI charge.
Smith -- who's set to be an NFL free agent this offseason -- released a statement late Monday afternoon following the arrest, urging his fans to not rush to judgment.
"Being arrested brings a taint onto the reputation that is impossible to undo, no matter what really happened," Smith said. "I'm asking all of you to hold back on judging me the same as you would do for a friend or family member. I’ll have more to say down the road & ask that you bare with me."
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Seahawks QB Geno Smith Arrested ... Allegedly Drove Under Influence After Win
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6:35 AM PT -- 1/11 -- Geno released a statement hours after he was arrested ... urging his fans to not rush to judgment.
"Being arrested brings a taint onto the reputation that is impossible to undo, no matter what really happened," Smith said. "I'm asking all of you to hold back on judging me the same as you would do for a friend or family member. I’ll have more to say down the road & ask that you bare with me."
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith -- who started three games for Seattle this season -- was arrested early Monday morning on suspicion of DUI in Washington ... TMZ Sports has confirmed.
A spokesperson for the Washington State Patrol tells us ... Smith was pulled over at around 2 AM in King County -- just hours after the Seahawks returned home from beating the Cardinals in Arizona on Sunday.
According to law enforcement, Smith was initially stopped for speeding ... and was booked into the King County Jail a short time later.
Records show he was released after about seven hours in custody.
Further details surrounding the arrest are unclear ... we're working on it.
Smith played in a total of four games this season while Russell Wilson was out with a finger injury. He recorded a 1-2 record and logged 702 passing yards and five TDs.
The former 2nd-round pick is slated to be a free agent this offseason.
Originally Published -- 1/10 4:09 PM PT