DeBarge brothers arrested on drug suspicion after odd traffic stop in Burbank

James and Chico DeBarge, of 1980s R&B group DeBarge, were arrested in Burbank, California after police found narcotics during an unusual traffic stop.

DeBarge brothers held on drug charges following Burbank traffic stop

Google News MT — Crime (en) reports that James DeBarge and Jonathan "Chico" DeBarge, two members of the 1980s R&B family group DeBarge, were arrested in Burbank, California in the early hours of Friday morning on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance.

Officers stopped the pair around 1:30 a.m. after observing a Chevrolet Tahoe towing a Nissan SUV using a tow strap — an arrangement that drew police attention. Neither vehicle carried licence plates, and neither driver was wearing a seat belt.

James DeBarge, 63, was at the wheel of the Tahoe. Chico DeBarge, 60, was seated in the Nissan being towed. Police found narcotics at the scene and arrested both men. Chico DeBarge was additionally booked on an outstanding warrant, according to NBC4.

DeBarge rose to prominence in the mid-1980s as a family R&B act, with James among its members alongside El DeBarge, Mark DeBarge, Randy DeBarge and Bunny DeBarge. The group's biggest commercial success came in 1985 with "Rhythm of the Night," which featured in the film The Last Dragon and reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The group also charted with "All This Love," "I Like It," "Who's Holding Donna Now" and the Grammy-nominated "In a Special Way."

El DeBarge departed for a solo career in 1986, after which Chico briefly joined the group. Chico subsequently released several solo albums through the late 1980s and 1990s, including one titled Addiction, in which he addressed his struggles with substance dependency. A drug trafficking arrest in 1988 resulted in a prison sentence for Chico and contributed to the group's eventual break-up.

James DeBarge married pop star Janet Jackson in 1984; the marriage was annulled the following year. His daughter Kristinia DeBarge achieved a platinum single in 2009 with the pop-dance track "Goodbye."

Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)