Brothers James and Chico DeBarge, members of the musical family behind R&B and pop hits in the 1970s and 1980s, were arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance Friday in Burbank, police told NBC4 Investigates.
Burbank police conducted a traffic stop after seeing a Chevy Tahoe towing a Nissan SUV at about 1:30 a.m. Friday with a tow strap. There were no license plates on either vehicle, police said.
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James DeBarge, 63, was behind the wheel of the Tahoe, which was towing the Nissan SUV occupied by Jonathan Chico DeBarge, police said. Narcotics were found at the scene and both men were arrested, according to police.
They were not wearing seatbelts, police said.
Jonathan Chico DeBarge was also booked on an outstanding warrant. Details about the warrant were not immediately available.
Both SUVs were towed.
NBCLA has reached out to the DeBarge brothers for comment.
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The DeBarge siblings were part of a large family of musicians and singers, some of whom formed the group “DeBarge.” Some of their biggest hits included “Rhythm of the Night” and “I Like It.”
Chico, 60, released solo albums in the 1980s and 1990s. He had openly discussed his struggles with addiction through his music as his sixth album “Addiction” addressed the impact, including his prison sentence on drug charges.
