Richie Sambora DUI With Kid in Car
March 26, 2008

Richie Sambora, the famous guitarist for Bon Jovi, is in some serious trouble after he was caught driving while intoxicated with his 10-year-old daughter in the car. Sambora was busted Tuesday night in Laguna Beach, CA and arrested on a DUI charge and his daughter was in the car with him. According to People, Sambora was pulled over around 10:52pm last night after the police say him driving erratically, weaving back and forth on the road. (People spoke to Laguna Beach Police Sgt. Jason Kravetz). Richie Sambora was behind the wheel of a Hummer with his girlfriend and his daughter Ava, whose mother is Heather Locklear, and another unidentified young girl, probably a friend of his daughter's. He's already in serious trouble because of the DUI, but reports circulated this afternoon that the state could add a charge or two of child endangerment to Sambora's set list.

Kravetz tells People that Sambora "smelled of alcohol" and so he was given a blood alcohol test. There was no Gibson-esque meltdown however and Kravetz did note that Sambora was "quiet and cooperative and he didn't cause any problems." Richie was released from custody around 4:00am and must return to court for arraignment on May 7th. There was also no indication of drugs, according to TMZ, who first reported the story. A representative for Richie Sambora had no comment but a friend of Sambora and ex-wife Heather Locklear told People that he/she was shocked. Aren't we all? The friend said that Ava being in the car is "almost too much to believe. He adores her and is very protective her. All I can think is that he made a stupid miscalculation." TMZ reports that the Laguna Beach P.D. is actively investigating whether or not to charge Richie Sambora with child endangerment.

This isn't the first time that Sambora has made headlines for drinking. He entered a treatment facility in June of 2007 and said during a recent Today show appearance, "I was just drinking too much and I needed to get my life together. I'm still in therapy and stuff like that, but it's good. I'm great. I feel fine." Things have not been good lately for Sambora, despite the continued success of Bon Jovi. In his personal life, Sambora saw his relationship with girlfriend Denise Richards end after about a year and his divorce from Locklear was finalized in April, the same month that his father died of lung cancer. Richie Sambora is still scheduled to play with Bon Jovi in Denver on Monday.

Bon Jovi is one of the biggest bands of the last quarter-century, releasing 10 albums in a row that have sold more than 3 million copies worldwide and four albums that sold ten million plus. Their last eight CDs all peaked in the top ten with three number ones, including last year's Lost Highway. Slippery When Wet was one of the biggest hits of the '80s, selling a ridiculous 28 million copies worldwide and the band is still popular to this day with Bounce and Have a Nice Day opening in the number two slot and Lost Highway at number one. Every album in the history of Bon Jovi has gone at least platinum in the States. Top ten singles include "You Give Love a Bad Name," "Wanted Dead or Alive," "Livin' On a Prayer," "Bad Medicine," "Born to Be My Baby," "I'll Be There For You," "Lay Your Hands on Me," "Livin in Sin," "Bed of Roses," and "Always".