Mug shot via TMZ
CSI star Gary Dourdan pulled a George Michael and was found by police passed out in his car at 5:21 this morning in Palm Springs, California. Cops must have searched his vehicle because TMZ reports that he was arrested on suspicion of heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and prescription drugs. He is now out of jail after posting bail of $5,000.

——–possible CSI Spoiler below——–

This week’s National Enquirer reports that Dourdan was canned from CSI for his drug and alcohol problem, but that he’s telling people he was fired:

“CSI” star Gary Dourdan claims he quit the show - but he was fired due to drug and alcohol abuse, say sources!

Gary - who plays criminalist Warrick Brown - is telling pals that he decided to walk away from the hit CBS drama, but show insiders insist that studio brass gave him the boot after weeks of tension on the set.

The 43-year-old actor has confessed in interviews to “reckless periods” when he abused drugs and alcohol, but claims he quit cold turkey in his 20s. Despite that, insiders say the show’s producers got fed with Gary’s drugging and boozing - and pulled the plug on his TV crime-fighting career.

When contacted by The Enquirer, CBS wouldn’t comment on the reasons for Gary’s departure.

[From The National Enquirer, print edition, May 5, 2008]

The Enquirer reminds us that Dourdan pled no contest to misdemeanor battery in 2005 after it was alleged that he beat and raped a former girlfriend. And remember that video that TMZ posted last summer of Dourdan chasing and taunting a paparazzo instead of the other way around? Dourdan is said to have beat up the guy and smashed his head on the pavement, but it’s hard to tell from the videos they have up, which are pretty shaky because the victim is carrying the camera. There’s a lot of running and swearing going on, and whatever happened it’s clear that Dourdan is taunting the poor guy.

In response to Dourdan’s photographer beat down in mid July, 2007, CBS issued a statement that he had not been dropped from the show. It looks like he’s out of there at this point and that it’s not like getting busted for drug possession is going to affect his already-tanked career. Gary Dourdan’s bio is still up on the CSI website, but look for a statement from CBS about his employment status in light of his recent drug bust.

TMZ says this douce Gary Dourdan from CSI beat up a paparazzo and then followed him around trying to get his camera. They have like four videos up of the incident, but they’re super long and all shaky and from what I can tell you never see the actual beat-down, it’s just all yelling and bad camera angles. TMZ should really edit their videos down, because watching a camera aimed at the ground go into a mini mart, run down the street and then get into a cab is a real waste of five minutes. And that’s just one video.

As we previously reported, the “CSI” star brutally attacks our guy, then speeds off on his Ducati. Apparently unaware that his camera is still recording, our photog captures Dourdan coming back for round two and recklessly chasing him around Hollywood.

Dourdan and his entourage, riding in a Town Car, chase the frightened photog as he begs passersby for help, ultimately flagging down a cab to get away from the mob.

[From TMZ]

Why is it always the minor celebrities, like Woody Harrelson, and Jamiroquai that beat up paparazzi? If they were out with another woman or something they’re only making it obvious, and no one wants pictures of their sorry asses anyway.

Dourdan has predictably issued a response, and it sounds pretty convincing to me:

“Gary has always been respectful of the media and the paparazzi but also values his privacy. It’s our belief that this is a minor incident exaggerated by an eager paparazzo in order to create a story.”

[From TMZ]

Maybe if TMZ wouldn’t make me watch 20 minutes worth of crappy video to figure out what happened I might be more likely to believe them. I mean, it probably happened and all, but it’s a waste of time trying to find any kind of proof on their videos which is why they try and make you watch them all thinking you missed something.