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Daniel Baldwin Detained by L.A. Police Following Crash

Thursday, July 20, 2006

LOS ANGELES, July 20, 2006 -- Daniel Baldwin could face reckless driving charges after he drove a rented Ford Thunderbird at speeds of more than 80 mph through traffic and crashed into two parked cars, police said.

Baldwin was detained for questioning after the crash Wednesday and was examined at a hospital after complaining of back and neck pain, Officer Martha Garcia said Thursday.

"He was not arrested," she said. "He was detained for questioning, then afterward they determined they were going to file charges. "It was a misdemeanor and not a felony. If it were a felony, he would be arrested."

An after-hours message left for Baldwin's attorney was not immediately returned.

Shortly before 1 p.m. Wednesday, police officers said they observed Baldwin's car traveling at more than 80 mph. The car wove in and out of traffic and ran a red light before striking the two parked cars, including a Hummer that was pushed about 20 feet by the impact, authorities said.

Baldwin refused to cooperate with a police officer, who drew his gun to get the actor to comply, Officer Jason Lee, a police spokesman, said.

"The officer had advised him many times that he should get on the floor and not move and he would not listen so the officer took out his gun and pointed it at him and asked him to stop moving," said witness Nina Sharafi.

An unidentified woman in the car was not injured and went to the hospital with the actor, authorities said.

Baldwin, 45, was driving with a suspended license, said Lee, adding detectives planned to forward the case to the city attorney's office for misdemeanor charges.

Baldwin, brother of Alec, Stephen and William, has appeared in films such as "Car 54, Where Are You?" and "Attack of the 50-Foot Woman." He has also appeared in episodes of "NYPD Blue" and "Touched by an Angel."

In April, prosecutors declined to file felony charges against Baldwin after his arrest in a cocaine possession case. Police said they found the actor and another man in a Santa Monica hotel, along with cocaine and drug paraphernalia.

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