DeBarge, 50, whose real name is Eldra Patrick DeBarge, was busted by undercover cops near a freeway interchange in Los Angeles’ Encino neighborhood, an LAPD spokeswoman told the Los Angeles Times.
Officers observed DeBarge and another man taking part in an apparent drug deal about 2 p.m. Monday, gossip website TMZ reports. Police also found illegal drugs in the area where DeBarge was standing, though they did not disclose what kind of drugs were found.
El DeBarge was arrested in connection with drug possession with intent to sell, according to the LAPD. That's a felony in California, punishable by up to three years in jail.
The possession element of the crime can be fulfilled in several ways: Actual possession means the drugs were found on the person; constructive possession means a person had access to the drugs and control over the drugs; and joint possession means two or more people had access to, and control over, the drugs. It's not clear what kind of possession El DeBarge was arrested for.
The arrest is a major blow to DeBarge, who had tried desperately to clean up his act. In the last year and a half he had showed the true power of public redemption with a high-profile comeback -- 2010’s Grammy-nominated, “Second Chance,” his first album in nearly two decades.
Once the lead singer of the popular '80s Motown family group DeBarge, he transitioned that early success into a solo career. But it became an afterthought when addiction -- which he has battled for more than two decades and has also plagued a number of his siblings -- and a laundry lists of legal troubles, including arrests on cocaine possession and domestic violence charges, crippled a once-thriving career.
His dependence on heroin and crack ultimately landed him in prison, where he spent 13 months before his release in 2009. But the new album gave him a renewed outlook on life.
“Second Chance,” DeBarge's first release on new label home Geffen, boasted production from Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and Babyface, and collaborations with Faith Evans, 50 Cent and Fabolous. It was nominated for R&B album at this year's Grammys, but was bested by Chris Brown.
It appeared the singer had slipped back into old habits shortly after the album's release. Last year he dropped out of a tour with KEM and Lesidi to enter rehab to deal with substance abuse issues. "I hate to disappoint my fans, but it is necessary for me to take the time to work on me so that I may continue to share my music and my story with everyone," DeBarge said in a statement after that cancellation.
DeBarge, bounced back and The Times caught the singer’s nimble set at the 2011 Essence Music Festival in July, but shows have garnered shaky reviews. Mikael Wood called the singer’s recent show at Key Club "volatile all by itself, with false song starts, a baffling dance contest and the temporary disappearance partway through of DeBarge, who tearfully retreated behind a curtain at the rear of the stage after singing ‘Rhythm of the Night.’” He was also seen emotionally reuniting with Whitney Houston during her last public appearance at Hollywood's Tru nightclub two days before her death.
Officers observed DeBarge and another man taking part in an apparent drug deal about 2 p.m. Monday, gossip website TMZ reports. Police also found illegal drugs in the area where DeBarge was standing, though they did not disclose what kind of drugs were found.
El DeBarge was arrested in connection with drug possession with intent to sell, according to the LAPD. That's a felony in California, punishable by up to three years in jail.
The possession element of the crime can be fulfilled in several ways: Actual possession means the drugs were found on the person; constructive possession means a person had access to the drugs and control over the drugs; and joint possession means two or more people had access to, and control over, the drugs. It's not clear what kind of possession El DeBarge was arrested for.
The arrest is a major blow to DeBarge, who had tried desperately to clean up his act. In the last year and a half he had showed the true power of public redemption with a high-profile comeback -- 2010’s Grammy-nominated, “Second Chance,” his first album in nearly two decades.
Once the lead singer of the popular '80s Motown family group DeBarge, he transitioned that early success into a solo career. But it became an afterthought when addiction -- which he has battled for more than two decades and has also plagued a number of his siblings -- and a laundry lists of legal troubles, including arrests on cocaine possession and domestic violence charges, crippled a once-thriving career.
His dependence on heroin and crack ultimately landed him in prison, where he spent 13 months before his release in 2009. But the new album gave him a renewed outlook on life.
“Second Chance,” DeBarge's first release on new label home Geffen, boasted production from Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and Babyface, and collaborations with Faith Evans, 50 Cent and Fabolous. It was nominated for R&B album at this year's Grammys, but was bested by Chris Brown.
It appeared the singer had slipped back into old habits shortly after the album's release. Last year he dropped out of a tour with KEM and Lesidi to enter rehab to deal with substance abuse issues. "I hate to disappoint my fans, but it is necessary for me to take the time to work on me so that I may continue to share my music and my story with everyone," DeBarge said in a statement after that cancellation.
DeBarge, bounced back and The Times caught the singer’s nimble set at the 2011 Essence Music Festival in July, but shows have garnered shaky reviews. Mikael Wood called the singer’s recent show at Key Club "volatile all by itself, with false song starts, a baffling dance contest and the temporary disappearance partway through of DeBarge, who tearfully retreated behind a curtain at the rear of the stage after singing ‘Rhythm of the Night.’” He was also seen emotionally reuniting with Whitney Houston during her last public appearance at Hollywood's Tru nightclub two days before her death.
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