Why was El Debarge arrested? 'Rhythm of the Night' singer busted in middle of the night at gas station
BURBANK, CALIFORNIA: El DeBarge, a falsetto singer best known for his songs 'Who's Johnny' and 'Love Always', was reportedly arrested by police in the middle of the night on Sunday, January 8, 2023, after a run-in with them at a local gas station.
DeBarge was arrested by Burbank police at a local gas station at 3.40 am, according to TMZ. Authorities had initially observed that DeBarge's car had expired tags, but as they drew closer, they saw an illegal weapon — an expandable metal baton — in the vehicle. Police performed a more thorough search of the vehicle after finding the illegal metal baton. They allegedly found pepper spray and what they believed to be heroin-like drugs during the search. DeBarge's expired driving license was also another thing they noted.
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DeBarge was arrested and charged with many offenses, including having a leaded cane or baton, possessing a controlled narcotic, and possessing drug paraphernalia. He reportedly posted a $25K bond and is scheduled to appear in court again in March.
DeBarge, best known as the lead singer of the troubled family band 'DeBarge' from the '70s and '80s, has a protracted history of addiction and legal issues. The 'Rhythm of the Night' singer was charged with criminal vandalism in 2018 after reportedly smashing a man's windshield with a wrench after an argument.
DeBarge reportedly spent one night in jail at that time before he posted a $20K bond. He has previously been arrested in connection with drug possession in the years 2006 and 2012, as reported by Complex. Additionally, other DeBarge family members have also faced legal issues.
In 2014, it was revealed that James DeBarge and R&B singer Chris Brown had been working together on music while the two were imprisoned in the LA County Jail, according to TMZ. James had been found guilty of drug-related felonies, while Brown had been imprisoned for violating his probation.
Regardless of their problems with the law, the DeBarge family undoubtedly has a strong love for music. The family band 'DeBarge' has released five studio albums throughout the years, with the album's first hit 'Rhythm of the Night' reaching #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming the band's best-selling release.