Mugshot of TV star Gary Dourdan

CSI star arrested on drugs charges

Updated 09.02 Wed Apr 30 2008

Gary Dourdan, one of the stars of hit US TV series CSI, has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a cocktail of drugs.

Dourdan, 41, who plays forensics investigator Warrick Brown in the crime series, was found asleep at the wheel of a car in Palm Springs, about 100 miles east of Los Angeles.

Substances believed to be cocaine, heroin, Ecstasy and various prescription drugs, as well as drug paraphernalia were found in the car

Police said he appeared to be disorientated and "possibly under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs" when approached by an officer.

Substances believed to be cocaine, heroin, Ecstasy and various prescription drugs as well as drug paraphernalia were found in the car, which had been parked on the wrong side of the street with the interior light left on.

Dourdan was arrested, booked for possession of narcotics and dangerous drugs and jailed for about five hours before he was released on bail.

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is the most-watched drama on US television. Dourdan is set to leave the series next month. It followed a storyline that saw his character implicated in the murder of a local gang member in recent episodes.

A CBS spokesman said the network had no comment on how Dourdan's recent arrest might affect production of the show.

Dourdan's career took off when he got a part on TV sitcom A Different World - a spin-off of the Cosby Show. He also starred in the 1997 film Alien: Resurrection.

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.