The 53-year-old singer has a history of addiction.
R&B singer Chico DeBarge was taken into custody for meth possession last month, according to TMZ.
DeBarge, who had apparently locked his keys in his car, was spotted trying to use a wire to get into his SUV in a Walmart parking lot in Burbank in early November when police were called. Upon arrival, the police searched DeBarge under the assumption that he was trying to break into the vehicle.
Authorities reportedly found methamphetamine in his pockets which led to a search of his vehicle where drug paraphernalia was discovered.
The 53-year-old was taken to Burbank City Jail and is awaiting formal charges, TMZ reports.
Family History Of Addiction
DeBarge and his famous family members reached the height of fame in the ’80s where they dominated the R&B charts until addiction dismantled their reign. Bobby DeBarge Jr., the second-oldest sibling, enjoyed success with Switch, an 80s R&B/funk band, but his battle with addiction eventually led to his arrest for particpating in a drug-trafficking ring with his brother Chico in 1988.
In 1995, at the age of 39, Bobby Jr. died in prison from AIDS-related complications.
Chico received a six-year sentence and went on to record a comeback album which debuted in 1998.
El DeBarge
El DeBarge, arguably the most popular member of the famous singing family, publicly battled addiction throughout his successful career. He has been arrested three times for drug posession, spent time in prison for drugs, and struggled with cocaine addiction for decades.
“I wasted more than 16 years that I was on drugs,” El told Mlive in 2010. “The drug thing was more like 22 years. I was out on tour with Chaka Khan. My 22 years of drugs, all that time was wasted. That was me not being dedicated to reality. That was me not being responsible to my children. That was me not being responsible to God, who gave me this gift of music. That was me not being responsible to my fans. That’s why it is such a gift that I have this time now to do it again. I didn’t have to be given this second chance because by the grace of God it was given to me. I think what happened is that I got my will power back.”
El’s comeback tour was halted in 2011 when he entered rehab for addiction treatment, Grio reports. He was arrested for drug possession the following year.
Other Siblings
In a 2011 interview with Dr. Drew, eldest sister Bunny DeBarge revealed that they believe the family is cursed with addiction. Bunny and her brothers Randy and James spoke candidly about using to stop withdrawals and how addiction has hurt their family for generations.