Jonathan Taylor Thomas: Former Lion King Disney child star arrested for ‘kicking’ sheriff’s deputy
The ‘90s star, who rose to fame in Disney’s The Lion King, spent 34 hours in a Los Angeles jail after the alleged altercation.
Former Lion King and Tool Time star Jonathan Taylor Thomas has been arrested after an alleged late night altercation with police.
It’s alleged the 45-year-old was detained after sheriff’s deputies stopped a car he was travelling in as a passenger in the early hours of September 21.
Authorities allege the former Disney star interfered with officers attempting in the course of their duties as they questioned the vehicle’s driver, who they suspected of being under the influence.
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Sheriff’s deputies said the car was blocking traffic as it remained stationary at a Westlake Village intersection despite a green light.
Police claimed they began a traffic stop and DUI investigation after seeing someone at the wheel who “appeared to be intoxicated”, according to the statement.
It’s alleged Thomas then became involved as deputies began conducting sobriety tests on the driver, despite repeatedly being told to remain inside the vehicle.
Police alleged that the former child star also appeared intoxicated.
When moves were made to detain Thomas for allegations of obstruction and public intoxication, it’s alleged that he lashed out and “kicked a deputy in the stomach”.
Thomas was then taken to Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station, where he was booked into jail at 1.50am and remained for the following 34 hours before his release.
However, Thomas’ arrest was subsequently downgraded to a detention, according to Metro. The driver was still arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.
The status of Thomas’ case remains unknown - it is understood by People to have been submitted to the County District Attorney’s Office for consideration despite the fact it had not been received by Wednesday.
It was previously reported that Thomas was arrested after becoming “uncooperative” during the traffic stop.
“He was uncooperative with them, failed to follow orders, and obstructed the investigation, so he was arrested for obstruction, and he was arrested for [being] drunk in public,” the Sheriff’s Department claimed.
Thomas was one of the biggest child stars of the 1990s, playing Randy Taylor on Tim Allen’s long-running hit sitcom Home Improvement, voicing young Simba in 1994’s Disney Lion King as well as playing Pinocchio in the 1996 Disney film The Adventures of Pinocchio.
However, since departing Home Improvement in 1998, his acting work has become more sporadic, with short guest spots in shows such as Smallville and Veronica Mars.
