James and Chico DeBarge detained in Burbank on drug suspicion
James DeBarge, 63, and his brother Chico DeBarge, 60, were arrested Friday in Burbank after police found a controlled substance during a vehicle stop.
Around 1:30 a.m. on Friday, Burbank officers observed a license-plate-less Chevy Tahoe pulling a Nissan SUV with a tow strap and initiated a stop. Inside the vehicles, police found a controlled substance, prompting the arrest of James DeBarge, 63, who was behind the wheel, and his brother Jonathan Chico DeBarge, 60, who was seated in the towed Nissan. Both brothers were not wearing seatbelts, and the police towed the vehicles after the arrests.
The department has not disclosed the nature of the warrant that led to the encounter. Chico DeBarge’s criminal history includes multiple drug convictions since the late 1980s, including a federal cocaine smuggling case and several recent possession charges. James DeBarge also has prior arrests for drug possession and a hit-and-run incident. The latest bust continues a pattern of legal troubles that have affected several members of the DeBarge musical family.
Why it matters
The arrests highlight ongoing legal issues for high-profile musicians and draw public attention to drug enforcement actions.
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