Jonathan Taylor Thomas, the actor from 'Home Improvement,' was arrested Monday in Westlake Village following a traffic stop. According to authorities, deputies encountered a vehicle stopped at an intersection despite a green light, blocking traffic. They pulled alongside the car to check on the driver.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, deputies noticed that the driver appeared to be intoxicated. Jonathan Taylor Thomas was sitting in the passenger seat. While deputies administered field sobriety tests to the driver, the situation nearby reportedly began to escalate.
According to Authorities, Jonathan Taylor Thomas Disrupted the Investigation
While deputies were checking the driver, the former child star allegedly repeatedly interrupted the investigation. Authorities said he appeared intoxicated, repeatedly got out of the vehicle, and approached the deputies, distracting them from their work.
Deputies then attempted to detain Thomas for obstruction and public intoxication. According to authorities, he allegedly kicked a deputy in the stomach. He was taken to the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station, while the driver was also arrested on suspicion of DUI.
Released After a Night in Custody
The 45-year-old spent the night in custody and was released Tuesday, according to jail records. At the time of the reports, no criminal charges had been filed against Thomas. The case is expected to be submitted to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office for consideration, so it remains to be seen whether charges will ultimately be filed.
A Career Spanning Sitcom Success and a Step Away From Hollywood
Jonathan Taylor Thomas became known to millions of viewers in the 1990s for playing Randy Taylor on the sitcom 'Home Improvement.' He also voiced young Simba in Disney’s 'The Lion King' and appeared in films including 'Tom and Huck,' 'Man of the House,' and 'The Adventures of Pinocchio.'
After years in the spotlight, Thomas largely stepped away from Hollywood. He later attended Harvard, Columbia University, and the University of St Andrews in Scotland, returning to the screen only occasionally.
A Rare Reunion With His Former Co-Stars
As recently as July, Thomas made a rare public appearance with former 'Home Improvement' co-stars Patricia Richardson and Taran Noah Smith. Richardson shared a group photo on social media with her former TV sons and captioned it, “My other boys.”
For many fans, the reunion offered a rare glimpse of the former teen star, who has maintained a relatively low public profile for years. His arrest shortly afterward therefore brought his name back into the headlines.
