Actress Mischa
Barton was arrested for investigation of misdemeanor
driving under the influence and possessing marijuana after
her car was stopped by sheriff's deputies early
Thursday morning in West Hollywood.
Los Angeles
County sheriff's officials said the former star of The
O.C. was taken into custody after deputies saw her
car straddling two lanes of traffic and failing to signal
while making a turn.
''During Ms.
Barton's detention, it was determined that she was an
unlicensed driver and was driving while under the influence
of an alcoholic beverage,'' their statement read.
The 21-year-old
actress was arrested for investigation of driving under
the influence of alcohol, driving without a license,
possessing a controlled substance, and possessing
marijuana, according to a statement from Sgt. John
Hocking. She spent about seven hours in the West Hollywood
jail before being released on $10,000 bail. A court hearing
was scheduled for February 28. Calls to her manager
and publicist were not immediately returned.
Barton played
Marissa Cooper on The O.C. from 2003 to 2006,
when her character died in a car crash. Barton had a brief
lesbian storyline on the show that featured Marissa and
another female character engaged in a fling. She
also has appeared in several movies, including The
Sixth Sense and the upcoming Virgin
Territory.
In May, Barton
was hospitalized for two hours after an antibiotic she was
taking interacted badly with alcohol. Her arrest was first
reported by Hollyscoop.com. (Robert Jablon, AP, with
additional reporting by The Advocate)
