Christian Slater Accused of Groping By Sarah HallTue May 31, 9:44 PM ET
It seems a safe bet to assume that true romance wasn't on Christian Slater's agenda Tuesday morning when he allegedly groped a woman in a Manhattan corner store.
The Very Bad Things actor was allegedly arguing with his girlfriend in the wee hours of the morning when he walked up behind another woman and firmly grasped her buttocks.
The woman flagged down police and reported the incident, pointing out Slater as the man who assaulted her.
The actor, 35, was arrested and charged with third-degree sexual abuse.
"Basically, he grabbed a woman's behind on the street," New York Police Sergeant Mary Doherty told CNN, adding that Slater was "intoxicated at the time."
A local ABC affiliate showed footage of the handcuffed Untamed Heart star being helped into a police cruiser while stating, "I didn't do anything."
The actor also reportedly threatened to sue his arresting officer and the New York City Police Department, a prosecutor said Tuesday.
Slater did not enter a plea at his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court Tuesday. He was given a July 14 court date and declined to speak to reporters as he left the courthouse, leaving his rep to do the talking.
"We believe this situation is the result of a misunderstanding and we are hopeful that this will be resolved shortly," Slater's publicist said in a statement.
It's certainly not the first time the Pump Up the Volume star has been accused of bad behavior.
In 1997, Slater was arrested after an out-of-control rampage, during which he allegedly walloped his girlfriend in the face, bit a man in the stomach and attempted to tear a firearm out of an officer's hand. The actor later indicated to authorities that his rage was fueled by a combination of heroin and cocaine.
The incident landed Slater in rehab and later in jail, where he served 59 days of a 90-day sentence.
Earlier this year, Slater filed for divorce from his wife of five years, television producer Ryan Haddon.
Signs of trouble in the duo's relationship cropped up in 2003, when Haddon was arrested in Las Vegas for hurling a water glass at Slater's head and causing a gash that required nine stitches to close.
No charges were filed against Haddon in the incident.
The couple now share custody of their two children, Jaden, six, and Eliana, three.
Slater is currently appearing in the Broadway revival of The Glass Menagerie opposite Jessica Lange.
His upcoming film, The Deal, costarring Selma Blair, is slated for limited release on Friday.
Bookmarks