El DeBarge: bailed out from the charge of drug possession

R&B singer El DeBarge was arrested on Monday in Encino by undercover narcotics officers of LAPD. However she will not face charges following his arrest for suspicion of drug possession with intent to sell, authorities said. The DA has rejected the case, citing "lack of sufficient evidence." Police arrested the 50-year-old on Monday, March 19 after officers said they saw a possible narcotics transaction in Encino.

According to documents obtained by OnTheRedCarpet.com, DeBarge was seen walking into an underground parking garage. Police told the singer to exit the garage, after which he and another man named Curtis Freeman were searched.

Authorities found a "baggie of cocaine base (rocks)" they claimed belonged to DeBarge in the garage where he had been spotted, but not on the singer. They found $40 on the other man, who told officers he went to the garage to buy a "rock" from the singer, which DeBarge denied.

DeBarge said he had been living with his sister, who upon arrival, told officers that DeBarge was in a drug program for using crack cocaine, but has been clean for a year.Freeman was also arrested on suspicion of attempted narcotics possession.

 

In February 2011, DeBarge checked into a rehabilitation center to deal with issues stemming from years of substance abuse. The singer has been arrested several times. In 2001, he was arrested for cocaine possession but was given probation. He was arrested again in 2006 for possession of a controlled substance and was again given probation. He served a two-year jail stint following a 2008 cocaine possession arrest. He was released from jail in October 2009. This time DeBarge was reportedly booked and released on $30,000 bail. He is due back in court next month.

 

The 50-year-old singer is best known as the lead singer of the family group DeBarge during the 1980s with the group he formed with his siblings that charted No. 1 hits such as "Rhythm of the Night."

El DeBarge with his family group