22 year-old Indiana Jones actor Shia LaBeouf’s former run-ins with the law were minor incidents which could be chalked up to youthful indiscretions. He was arrested for a drunken stand-down in a Walgreens with a security guard who made fun of him for purchasing Clearasil in November of last year. Shia was staying at a nearby hotel and was not driving at the time. The charges were ultimately dropped. He talked about the incident on David Letterman and he told the story with bravado, once flipping off Letterman when he asked him why he had changed to return to the store.

Shia was also ticketed for smoking outside in Burbank, California. An arrest warrant was issued in March after he failed to turn up for a hearing to address the charges, but his lawyer showed up the next day to plead guilty for him and Shia got off with a $500 fine.

In June a video was leaked that showed a drunken Shia telling a fellow party-goer to slap him while he egged him on by calling him a f*ggot. Shia issued a statement that he never should have used the word and apologized for it. He said it was an old video that was not meant to be made public. In my commentary at the time I mentioned that he’s 22 and at that point he had only minor offenses which seem relatively tame.

There are very few details about Shia’s latest arrest but it sounds like he was driving wasted and could easily have killed someone. TMZ reports that he was arrested for DUI after a drunken car accident. Both Shia and his accident victim were taken to the hospital and there’s no word if anyone was seriously injured:

TMZ has learned Shia LaBeouf has been arrested for DUI.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ LaBeouf was involved in a car accident at about 3:00 AM at the corner of LaBrea and Fountain in Hollywood. Paramedics were called to the scene and both parties were taken to a local hospital.

LaBeouf was placed under arrest on suspicion of felony DUI after we’re told he exhibited “outward signs” of intoxication at the scene.

[From TMZ]

Shia is arrogant and young, but maybe this arrest and accident will be a wake up call for him and he’ll start taking more responsibility for his action. There’s no excuse for driving drunk and with all the resources these young stars have you think they would know better. Of course they’re going to let loose and maybe they’ll smoke in a few places where it’s illegal or act stupid in public. Driving drunk is an entirely different matter, though, and it should never be seen a minor offense or somehow a “right of passage.” Innocent people can so easily be killed.

We’ll have to see what happened exactly and hopefully all the injuries are minor.

Update: Shia needs surgery on his hand. All other victim injuries are minor
TMZ has more details, and Shia has injured his hand and needs surgery. He had a passenger in his car who has a minor head injury and the driver of the other vehicle also sustained minor injuries. The police are still determining the level of the charges:

Law enforcement sources tell us Shia LaBeouf badly injured his hand and will need surgery.

As we first reported, LaBeouf was arrested this morning on suspicion of felony DUI after he allegedly made an illegal left, striking another car which then caused Shia’s car to roll.

We’re told Shia will need surgery on his left hand. A passenger in Shia’s car sustained minor head injuries and the driver of the other car sustained minor injuries as well.

Deputies are evaluating the case at the hospital right now to determine if LaBeouf will be booked on felony or misdemeanor DUI.

We’re told Shia will be in the hospital “for a while.” We could not get more specifics.

[From TMZ]

Shia LaBeouf is shown on 5/18/08 at a press conference for Indiana Jones at Cannes. Credit: Fame Pictures