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Jeremy London Kidnapped at Gunpoint, Forced to Take Drugs

Two suspects have been arrested after former Party of Five star was abducted in Palm Springs and terrorized for nearly five hours

By Gina Serpe Jun 17, 2010 7:45 PMTags
Brandon Adams, Mugshot, Jeremy LondonPalm Springs Police Department; Charley Gallay/WireImage

It's as bizarre as it is absolutely terrifying.

A week ago, former Party of Five and 7th Heaven star Jeremy London was trying to change a flat tire outside a hotel in Palm Springs. Two men stopped, ostensibly to help him.

And, for a short while, they did. And then they pulled a small hand gun on the actor and drove him around for more than 12 hours, during which time they forced him to smoke dope and hand out alcohol in a gang-riddled area of the city.

Until now, the 37-year-old has been understandably reticent to speak about the incident, but his spokesman released a statement exclusively to E! News:

"Thankfully, Jeremy London survived his terrorizing ordeal in Palm Springs last week—although understandably shaken and scared, he is currently working closely with law enforcement as they investigate the horrific turn of events," Dominic Friesen told E! News.

"Jeremy is spending quality time in an undisclosed location with family and friends, and appreciates the overwhelming support from his fans."

Police have also come forth to provide more details of the harrowing encounter.

According to the Palm Springs Police Department, London was changing his flat tire at roughly 2 p.m. when several men stopped to help him. They were presumably on foot as, after the tire was successfully changed, London sought to return their favor by offering them a ride home.

They obviously accepted, but soon after turned the tables on the actor, holding him up at gunpoint in the car.

"The gunman forced London to drive to various locations throughout the city, purchase alcohol and use illicit drugs," police spokeswoman Melissa Desmarais said in a statement.

While what drugs exactly he was forced to use haven't been confirmed, he reportedly was forced to smoke crack cocaine or amphetamines.

London's car was later found in the Gateway Estates neighborhood, where one of the alleged abductors lives. It's unclear how, exactly, the actor escaped, but escape he did.

After roughly 12 hours at the mercy of the kidnappers, London finally got away from the men and immediately after, at 2:35 a.m., contacted police.

Making his recovery all the more difficult from the terrorizing event is the fact that London, currently in the midst of a divorce and custody battle, is a recovering drug addict. He has long gone public with his battle and last year entered rehab to deal with his affinity for prescription pills.

Complicating things further is the fact that London was apparently driving on a suspended license at the time of his abduction. According to a clerk at the Riverside Superior Court, the actor was cited in January for driving on a suspended license and, as he has yet to answer to the misdemeanor charge, his license remains suspended.

Now for the good news: a suspect has already been detained and charged by Palm Springs police for the ordeal, which at least appears to have been completely random.

Brandon Adams was arrested later that day. The identification of the 26-year-old was made easier as, equally bizarrely, an officer actually spotted him and his as yet unidentified accomplice when they initially stopped at London's car. The officer suspected nothing sinister at the time, thinking the men were simply helping a driver change his tire and as a result, unfortunately, did not pull over.

Adams was arraigned on Tuesday and has been charged with kidnapping, robbery, possession of stolen property, vehicle theft, carjacking and using a firearm during the commission of a felony.

The 26-year-old is currently being held at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility. Detectives are continuing to investigate the case.

—Reporting by Whitney English

(Originally published on June 17, 2010 at 9:32 a.m. PT)