Tatum O'Neil Arrested in New York for Possession of Cocaine

The latest Hollywood personality to be arrested for drug possession is Academy Award winner, Tatum O'Neal, according to the Los Angeles Times. This not the first time for her, not by a long shot, and she has been in rehab in the past. This time, Tatum O' Neil was arrested in New York City and she did try to talk her way out of it, but to no avail.

She was inventive when she was arrested on the evening of June 1 on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, a high-end real estate market and where she has a luxury apartment. First, being an actress, she made sure the arresting officers knew who she was and then told them she was doing it as research for a new movie. When they did not buy that, she tried the old how-about-forgetting-about-it routine. Both Tatum O"Neil and the person who allegedly sold her crack cocaine got a trip to the 7th precinct.

Tatum O"Neil is not alone. Other stars have also been arrested for drug abuse in recent months. For instance, take the case of Gary Dourdan of CSI fame who was found asleep in his car, parked on the wrong side of the street, last month in Palm Springs. He really had a haul with him - heroin, cocaine and ecstasy and prescription drugs. According to the arresting office, he appeared to be disoriented and under the influence of one thing or the other or a combination of drugs and alcohol.

Mischa Barton made a big as a child actress in "A Ring of Endless Light" where she played a girl who could talk to dolphins. Back in December, she made a splash again, only this time she was arrested in Beverly Hills on suspicion of driving drunk and when the officer searched the car he discovered a wee bit of marijuana. She also was driving without a license. She received probation.

The problem is not confined to this side of the pond either. Just last month, British singer Amy Winehouse was arrested for cocaine use based on a video that was sent to the police that allegedly showed her using crack cocaine.