Actress Lindsay Lohan encountered a setback on Monday night, leading to her arrest early Tuesday morning on charges of driving under the influence and drug possession, as stated by her attorney Blair Berk.
Lohan had been using a SCRAM device to monitor her blood alcohol levels after completing a 45-day rehab program at Malibu’s Promises Alcohol and Drug Rehab Treatment Facility.
She had chosen to wear the device voluntarily to demonstrate her commitment to leaving her partying lifestyle behind.
In a statement released to TMZ.com, Berk acknowledged the challenges of addiction, mentioning that despite receiving positive progress reports, Lohan experienced a relapse, resulting in the removal of the monitoring bracelet.
The arrest occurred following an incident involving a car chase with the mother of her personal assistant, according to the Santa Monica Police Department, marking the second time in less than two months that Lohan faced DUI accusations in California, shortly after departing from rehab for the second time this year.
Reports indicate that Lohan has reentered rehab for a third time, though the specific facility was not disclosed.
Following her arrest near the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Lohan was released on bail after a few hours in custody.
During a pre-booking search, police discovered cocaine in Lohan’s pocket, in addition to conducting a breath test revealing a blood alcohol level ranging from .12 to .13 percent, exceeding California’s legal limit of 0.08 percent.
The 21-year-old actress faces two misdemeanor charges for suspected DUI and driving with a suspended license, along with two felony charges related to cocaine possession and transporting a narcotic.
Potential jail time looms if she is convicted on all counts.
The arrest stemmed from a confrontation between Lohan and a woman identified as the mother of her former personal assistant, who reported being chased by an unknown driver – later confirmed as Lohan – prompting a call to authorities out of fear.
Lt. Alex Padilla of the Santa Monica police described the incident as the culmination of a chase that led both vehicles into a civic center parking lot, where a tense interaction unfolded between Lohan and the woman, each accompanied by two passengers.
This recent episode follows Lohan’s completion of a 45-day program at Promises, which she underwent after a car accident in May.
Additionally, she recently visited the Beverly Hills Police Department for processing related to another DUI suspicion tied to the prior incident, scheduled for a court appearance on August 24, including a misdemeanor hit-and-run charge.
