San Diego Housing Bubble News and Analysis

Not sure anyone really cares, but here's a little sensationalism for your Hump Day afternoon:

Comedian Andy Dick arrested in Murrieta:
Witnesses tell police he groped and exposed the breast of Murrieta teen

By JOHN HALL - Staff Writer | Wednesday, July 16, 2008 2:43 PM PDT

MURRIETA ---- Comedian Andy Dick was "extremely intoxicated and belligerent," Murrieta police say, when officers arrested him on suspicion of sexual battery and drug possession early Wednesday morning.

Dick, 42, of Woodland Hills, was in the front passenger seat of a Honda pickup officers pulled over near Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant and bar on Murrieta Hot Springs Road, said police Lt. Dennis Vrooman.

Police were called to the business at 1:13 a.m. regarding an intoxicated man urinating in the parking lot, Vrooman said.

When officers got there, witnesses told them Dick had walked up to a 17-year-old girl outside the business, groped her and pulled down her tank top and bra, exposing her breasts, Vrooman said.

Earlier, the girl and at least one friend had been inside the restaurant and had spoken with Dick and "his entourage of about five other friends," Vrooman said.

The lieutenant said officers described Dick's demeanor as "extremely intoxicated and belligerent."

During a curbside lineup, the Murrieta teen and at least one other witness identified Dick as the alleged assailant, Vrooman said.

While searching the comedian, officers found a small amount of marijuana and Xanax, for which Dick did not have a prescription, police said.

Dick was arrested and booked at Southwest Detention Center in French Valley on suspicion of misdemeanor sexual battery, possession of a controlled substance ---- which is a felony, and possession of less than an ounce of marijuana.

Dick posted $5,000 bail and was released from custody later Wednesday morning.

A manager at Buffalo Wild Wings confirmed Wednesday that Dick had been in the business.

"He was here about three hours," she said, declining to give her name. She added that she was not aware of him posing any problem inside the restaurant. "It seemed like everyone was having a good time," she said.

Police say they first encountered Dick a few hours earlier at another Murrieta bar, the Corner Pocket on California Oaks Road.

Just before 9 p.m. Tuesday, police received a call about a fight at that business, Vrooman said.

While investigating the reported fight, officers found Dick on the patio "moderately intoxicated," Vrooman said. They were not able to determine if he was involved in any altercation.

In lieu of being arrested for public intoxication, Dick agreed to leave the business with his friends, the lieutenant said.

Vrooman said Dick told officers he was in Murrieta for the recent funeral of friend's father.

There was no mention midday Wednesday of what happened in Murrieta on Dick's official Web site. Neither Dick nor his representatives could be reached for comment Wednesday.

Dick, former costar of the sitcom "NewsRadio," has a reputation for crude behavior. He has been reported to have exposed himself to audiences at least twice. He was forcibly removed from the set of the show "Jimmy Kimmel Live" last year after he repeatedly touched guest Ivanka Trump without her permission.

Also last year, Dick was cited in Columbus, Ohio, for urinating on the sidewalk. A comedy club owner in the city said the actor also made inappropriate comments while onstage, groped patrons, took women into the men's room and urinated on the floor and on at least one person.

In 1999, Dick was arrested for possession of cocaine and marijuana after driving his car into a telephone pole in Hollywood. He pleaded guilty but the charges were dismissed after he went into a diversion program.

According to the Internet Movie Database Web site, Dick has three children ranging in age from 11 to 20.

Along with "NewsRadio," his credits include the sitcom "Less Than Perfect" and movies such as Employee of the Month, Blonde Ambition and The Comebacks.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact staff writer John Hall at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2628, or jhall [at] californian [dot] com.