According to a report by TMZ, the 70-year-old comedian was pulled over for a traffic infraction while driving in Burbank, which subsequently led to his arrest on suspicion of drug possession after a search of his car.
Comedian Paul Rodriguez was later apprehended, claiming that the drugs did not belong to him and alleging that the officer behaved unprofessionally during the search. The Daily Mail reported that Rodriguez believed the incident was motivated by racial bias.
During the traffic stop, it was reported that he was asleep in the passenger seat, and the officer, whom he identified as ‘Caucasian,’ purportedly struck him to rouse him. Concerning the drugs, Rodriguez claimed they were the property of his friend, who was operating the vehicle.
Despite his friend’s acknowledgment that the drugs belonged to her, Rodriguez was taken into custody, asserting that he was mistreated and that his car was being seized. The Daily Mail additionally reported that authorities stated Rodriguez was issued a citation and subsequently released for misdemeanor drug possession, with the case scheduled to be sent to the city attorney for evaluation, although they refrained from addressing his claims.
Rodriguez has recently encountered challenging circumstances following the death of his close friend, Donald Serrato, who died of natural causes during a visit to the comedian’s home in Los Angeles.
Rodriguez has had a distinguished career in comedy spanning over forty years, featuring in notable television programs such as The Golden Girls, Touched By An Angel, and The Twilight Zone, in addition to providing his voice for animated series like King Of The Hill, Dora The Explorer, and The Proud Family.
