Downey Fired From Ally
April 25 -- Oscar-nominated actor Robert Downey Jr. is feeling the pain of his most recent arrest in more ways than one. Downey, who was arrested Tuesday for allegedly being under the influence of an undisclosed "stimulant," has been fired from his recurring role on Fox sitcom Ally McBeal.
"We are wrapping up the stories on the final few episodes of Ally McBeal for the season without him," series producer David E. Kelley said in a statement released Tuesday. Downey recently won a Golden Globe for his acclaimed performance as Calista Flockhart's love interest.
The 36-year-old star, who is currently facing a separate trial on drug charges from a November arrest in Palm Springs, Calif., was taken into custody around 12:10 a.m. PST in the Los Angeles suburb of Culver City, Lt. Dave Tankenson told reporters.
Downey was jailed for several hours before he was released into the custody of his parole officer and told to appear in court on May 4, Tankenson noted.
He said an officer spotted Downey alone in an alley between a motel and a liquor store acting in a "suspicious" manner and approached, not aware that it was the Ally star. About a minute into their conversation, Tankenson said, the officer noticed the actor "displaying symptoms consistent with stimulant use" and arrested him. He said no drugs were found in Downey's possession, and that he cooperated with the officer.
Albert Alexio, 45, of Los Angeles, was also arrested with Downey for investigation of being on drugs, Tankenson told The Associated Press. Alexio was arrested at the nearby Baldwin Motel, described by police as "kind of a low-rent hotel," which has seen its share of drug busts.
Authorities said a urine test will determine if Downey was under the influence of a controlled substance, which would likely lead to his being charged with misdemeanor drug possession.
Riverside County Deputy District Attorney Tammy Capone, who is prosecuting the Palm Springs case, told Reuters that Downey's latest arrest could get him sent back to prison on a parole violation.
