Actor Daniel Baldwin arrested for car theft

November 10th, 2006

Santa Monica, CA - Actor Daniel Baldwin was booked on suspicion of stealing a friend's SUV, which followed a drug arrest in Santa Monica.

The friend, an Aliso Viejo resident, reported his vehicle stolen Sunday, saying no one had permission to drive it, Orange County sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino said.

A satellite tracking system was used to locate the 2003 GMC Yukon, which police found, along with the 46-year-old Baldwin, on Tuesday at the Santa Monica Motel, said Alex Padilla, spokesman for Santa Monica police.

Authorities also found illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia in Baldwin's motel room, Padilla said. The actor, who was arrested in Santa Monica in April on suspicion of drug possession, was booked again on suspicion of drug possession and of grand theft auto, before being transferred to Orange County.

Bail was set at $20,000, but deputies decided to release the brother of fellow actors Alec, William and Stephen Baldwin on his own recognizance because his high profile makes him less of a flight risk, Amormino said. Baldwin co-starred on the television cop show "Homicide: Life on the Street."

Baldwin was also arrested in L.A. in July after weaving through traffic at more than 80 mph and crashing a rented Ford Thunderbird into two parked cars, police said.