After a frightening fentanyl raid that he says was driven by race, comedy icon Paul Rodriguez is threatening to sue the police, but the cops have their own version of events.
The 70-year-old comic and the Burbank Police are at odds over his recent arrest for cocaine possession, in which he claims a “white cop slapped him.”
The police and the attorney for the former El Pollo Loco spokesperson have given DailyMail conflicting accounts.
Bobby Samini, Rodriguez’s attorney, asserted that the arresting officer had violated Rodriguez’s civil rights.
“The claim that Mr. Rodriguez was in possession of any controlled substance is completely untrue,” Samini said in a statement released on Wednesday.
“It is cowardly and reckless for anonymous sources to make statements that are just meant to disparage Mr. Rodriguez. “Mr. Rodriguez will take all necessary legal action against those responsible and defend these allegations,” he continued.
“In addition to his legendary Hollywood career, Mr. Rodriguez is a retired member of the United States Air Force,” Samini continued. He had the highest security clearance and served this country with pride.
“Despite his complete cooperation with the police, he was taken from the car by force, taken into custody, and then subjected to a strip search. There were no controlled substances on him or in his hands. He clarified that the goal of this behavior was to degrade and humiliate Mr. Rodriguez rather than to safeguard and benefit the community.
Paul Rodriguez was arrested along with a female friend, who was driving at the time. During a search, police found drugs in the woman’s purse.
