I saw this on a couple of websites today... Don't know how true it is but i found it kinda funny and sad at the same time

http://allhiphop.com/blog...92476.aspx


Why in the world would a softie like El Debarge get arrested at this point in his life? He’s pushing 50…actually 46. Anyway, he was arrested Saturday in Los Angeles and charged with some type of Felony. How does El (get it "L") catch an F like that? Anyway, something will pop up, because he is due in court today. Shout out to El DeBarge…Chico too


[Edited 8/30/07 9:46am]

Word? I wonder what he did. I am intrigued.

That looks like a Rumor, man.

lilgish said:

That's why i have the question mark there... also saw it on this site

http://www.mediatakeout.c..._jail.html

August 29, 2007. Have you been wondering what former R&B great El DeBarge has been up to lately? Well MediaTakeout.com found out that Janet Jackson's former brother in-law is in a California prison. According to the below report, Eldra DeBarge is being held on $20,000 bail for a "felony" arrest.

And it looks like he's having a hard time coming up with the $20,000. Because according to the same report, he's been sitting in jail since Monday.

So far the authorities over at the jail are pretty tight lipped about what he's charged with. But MediaTakeOut.com is hearing whispers that it may have had something to do with drugs.

Developing...

banks said:

-----
He has been in trouble for drugs before and he was once accused of rape. He is no angel.

laurarichardson said:

ahhhhh REALLY! aww my baby

SAY IT AIN'T SO!!!

Ironically I was just up here listening to old Switch and Debarge songs RIGHT now when I came back to the org and saw this thread

banks said:

Don't drop the soap, El!

http://www.tmz.com/

TMZ reports the arrest was for domestic violence.

vanity69 said:

Domestic violence??

Actually, it looks like someone f-d HIM up.

laurarichardson said:

Wasn't it James that had trouble with drugs. I know Chico spent some time in prison, I am not quite sure that was drug related too?

whatsgoingon said:

Bobby & Chico were both sent to prison for seven years for cocaine trafficking, I think. I think Bobby died shortly after he was released from prison. James had drug trouble though I don't remember him being arrested for such, though I knew about his drug problems from reading Janet's unauthorized biography and watching certain specials that stated Janet had to take James out of crack houses or something to that effect. Last time I saw a recent picture of El, it look like he was smoking the pipe too. I think most of that family had drug problems.

And I'm not surprised about this news about El, he and his wife had had problems throughout their marriage.

Timmy84 said:

I knew Bobby had died but I didn't know he went to Prison with Chico. They must have fell on hard times if they were drug trafficking.

whatsgoingon said:

I think Chico had a top ten hit at the time he was arrested. Bobby on the other hand either left or was kicked out of Switch, either or... I mean he and Tommy left together so you figure it out. But anyway, Bobby and Tommy later joined DeBarge after Bunny returned to Grand Rapids and El left the group for his solo career and their last album failed to grant them an audience so I bet that they were on hard times and one day Bobby decided to enlist Chico in helping him with drug trafficking and they got busted.

Really, the story of the DeBarges is sad.

vanity69 said:

UPDATE: TMZ has learned that the L.A. County District Attorney has rejected the domestic violence charge against El Debarge -- but he ain't a free man yet.

Timmy84 said:

WTH happened to the money they made recording? ALL of it went to drugs?

PurpleCharm said:

Could be the drugs...

uPtoWnNY said:

Might have but even if it wasn't, why even waste time doing that when you're supposedly living good? I'm just hoping that Motown didn't cheat them out of royalties because if so then that could be a good analogy that all the money that they DID earn went into buying smack, dope, weed, cocaine or whatever they were/are using.

Hmm, then I guess their BB King's Club concert tomorrow is canceled! In fact, they no longer have it listed on their website.

The AP have finally reported about his arrest:

Singer El DeBarge arrested in LA County

LOS ANGELES - R&B singer El DeBarge was arrested over the weekend for investigation of domestic violence, authorities said Wednesday.

DeBarge, 46, whose first real name is Eldra, was arrested Sunday in Lancaster, said Deputy Eric Eitner of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Details surrounding the arrest were not released.

The singer was being held without bail because he had two previous warrants for his arrest in narcotics cases, said sheriff's spokesman Deputy Tony Moore.

The singer led the family band DeBarge in the '80s before going solo. The group was known for such hits as "Who's Holding Donna Now" and "Rhythm of the Night".

DeBarge was arrested in Grand Rapids, Mich., in 1996 and ordered to pay back child support for his daughter. Ten years earlier, the Michigan native pleaded no contest in Grand Rapids to a charge of creating a disturbance after a college student accused him of assaulting her.

Three of his brothers - Chico, Robert and Thomas - have served jail time on cocaine-related convictions.

Damn, did they have to put his brother's prison records on blast...

PurpleCharm said:

I know, right... BUT I didn't know Tommy had been jailed on drug charges but I'm not totally surprised. Definitely surprised James didn't get caught especially hearing about his ordeals with drugs.

PurpleCharm said:

Fair game, especially when there seems to be an obvious problem within the family.

Oh my... I just checked TMZ and though they dropped the domestic abuse charge, he's held because he was warranted for his arrest on these violations:

Vandalism
Drugs (what I tell ya?)
...and I believe, driving with a suspended license.

They also have his mugshot and he's looking ashen.

Sad. I've known of the DeBarge's run-ins with the law, but El always seemed to be the one who was never caught up in it. In fact, I've heard him repeatedly characterized by those in the know as "the exception" in the family; the "spiritual" one.

I hope whatever he's gotten himself into can be easily remedied. He's a great talent, and has always given off pretty positive energy in his public presentation.

Unfortunately, drug rumors always surrounded El. I think he was as screwed up as the rest of them were (Bunny, Chico, Bobby, James and Tommy, etc.). This family, I can believe, are deeply spiritual but at the same time deeply fucked up. VIBE reportedly has the first of four chapters of their remarkable story.

Timmy84 said:

I always understood that it was Randy DeBarge who was the relatively stable one out of the family.

Najee said:

I can believe that since everybody else in the family have dealt with some legal issue.

Timmy84 said:

Last I heard about Randy DeBarge, his name was on a project remembering the 25th anniversary of an act called SMASH, which consisted of the members of Switch before it joined Motown Records, Tommy and Bobby DeBarge, Gregory Williams, Jody Sims, Phillip Ingram and more. Proceeds went to autism awareness, from which Randy's daughter Courtney suffers.
[Edited 8/30/07 5:45am]