Dec. 12, 2006

Nicole Richie's 'Difficult Time'

Reality Star Vows To Deal With DUI Arrest And Move Forward With Career

  • Play CBS Video Video 'Simple Life's Nicole Richie

    'Simple Life' star Nicole Richie, daughter of singer Lionel, joins The Early Show to talk about a new road trip with Paris Hilton, where they visit a nudist colony and work as maids.

  •  (AP Photo/Glendale Police Department)

(CBS/AP)  Nicole Richie isn't going to let her recent arrest stop her from moving forward with her career.

"This is a difficult time for Nicole, but she is prepared to accept whatever responsibility is appropriate," her attorney, Howard Weitzman, said in a statement to The Showbuzz Tuesday. "She intends to continue with her career and will deal with any other issues that need to be addressed."

One day after her arrest, Richie was greeted by a throng of paparazzi as she left rocker Joel Madden's Glendale, Calif. home, TMZ reported Tuesday. The Web site said that Madden, Hilary Duff's ex, is Richie's new boyfriend.

Richie was arrested at 1:45 a.m. on Monday for investigation of driving under the influence of alcohol, authorities said.

California Highway Patrol officers took Richie, 25, into custody without incident after she failed a field sobriety test, CHP Officer Todd Workman told the Associated Press.

"She admitted to the officers that she had taken Vicodin and she had smoked marijuana earlier that evening," Workman said.

Her black Mercedes SUV was stopped in the car pool lane of State Highway 134 when officers arrived.

Other motorists had placed emergency calls around 12:30 a.m. about a car headed against traffic, officers said.

"I don't know if he kept going, but I saw him coming up the off-ramp and I was like 'you've got to be kidding me.' I thought maybe it was a cop, but it was just a normal SUV," said an unnamed 911 caller reporting the incident.

Descriptions of the vehicle matched Richie's. When officers arrived, they found her car facing in the right direction.

Photos: The Incredible Shrinking Nicole
Photos: Celebrity Mug Shots
Photos: Celebrity Style 2006
Richie was placed in the passenger seat of her car and an officer drove the vehicle off the freeway.

Physician Michael Hirt told The Associated Press that Vicodin slows down reaction times and can also make people feel confused, dizzy and light-headed.

"And if you combine that with another central nervous system depressant like marijuana it's really like driving with a shirt pulled over your head — you are really in a cloud and not really competent to be driving," he added.

The star of "The Simple Life" reality series and daughter of pop singer Lionel Richie, was booked in Glendale, tested for drugs and released later Monday morning, Workman said. He said the results of the drug test hadn't been determined.

Her arraignment will take place Feb. 7 in Glendale Superior Court.


©MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Share:
  • Share
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Mixx
Add a Comment
by deborahbell-2009 December 13, 2006 10:07 PM EST
she made a mistake,and she facing the conseqeunces
so leave her alone and let her learn. how many of us make mistakes an learn.
all of us have issues and remember we are all human.
Reply to this comment
by marquezw December 13, 2006 4:34 PM EST
nicole eat something !!!
Reply to this comment
by marquezw December 13, 2006 4:34 PM EST
really really stupid decision hopefully she learns her lesson . im quite honestly sick of these celebs who get away with everything all they get is a lil slap in the hand and done deal may be if they were to be punished for their wrongdoings they would get it !!! nicole needs to grow up and act like the adult she should be . its ashame to think some people actually look up to these people !!
Reply to this comment
by olebd December 13, 2006 12:33 PM EST
Lionel needs to cut off the gravy train. What a spoiled brat!
Reply to this comment
by ljburnell December 12, 2006 10:40 PM EST
When they talk about her resuming her career,do they mean her career in **********,drugs or a career in sheer stupitidity?So much for having a person for young people to look up to.
Reply to this comment
by ssporleder December 12, 2006 10:19 PM EST
Get her off of the streets - she is lucky she did not kill anyone, or is that the real way to get her off of the streets? Probably.
Reply to this comment
  • MOST POPULAR
Latest News
News in Pictures
Scroll Left Scroll Right
Connect with CBS News

Stay connected with the CBS News using your favorite social networks and online news applications: