Jonathan Taylor Thomas, best known for playing Randy Taylor on “Home Improvement,” was arrested Monday during a traffic stop, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.
The 45-year-old actor, whose given name is Jonathan Taylor Weiss, was detained after the car he was riding in was pulled over for a DUI investigation in the Los Angeles area, according to the sheriff’s department.
Deputies saw a vehicle that was stopped at an intersection at a green light and was blocking traffic, officials said. They pulled alongside the vehicle to see if the driver needed assistance and noticed the driver was acting oddly and appeared to be intoxicated, the sheriff’s department said.
‘Home Improvement’ star detained during traffic stop
Deputies then stopped the vehicle and conducted a driving under the influence investigation.
Thomas was a passenger and appeared intoxicated, the department said. While sobriety tests were being performed on the driver, Thomas “continually exited the vehicle and approached the deputies, distracting them from their investigation,” the sheriff’s department said.
“Deputies attempted to detain (Thomas) for obstruction and public intoxication, at which point, (Thomas) kicked a deputy in the stomach,” the sheriff’s department said.
The actor was arrested and taken to a sheriff’s station where he was booked, officials told NBC News. The driver was also arrested and booked for driving under the influence of alcohol, according to the sheriff’s department.
According to jail records, Thomas was arrested at 1:50 a.m. Monday and released at 12 p.m. Tuesday.
Reps for Thomas did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The sheriff’s department said Thomas’ case will be presented to county prosecutors for consideration of criminal charges.
Thomas has kept out of the public eye for years, with his last acting credit being a 2015 appearance on Tim Allen’s show “Last Man Standing,” according to IMDb. He also directed a 2016 episode of the series.
In July, his “Home Improvement” on-screen mom, Patricia Richardson, posted a photo with him and cast member Taran Noah Smith on Instagram.
Thomas, a ’90s heartthrob, is also known for his roles in “Man of the House,” “Tom and Huck,” “Wild America” and “8 Simple Rules,” among others. He also voiced young Simba in “The Lion King.”
