James and Chico DeBarge Arrested August 28

James and Chico DeBarge, members of the renowned musical family, were arrested early Friday, August 28, 2026, in Burbank, California, on suspicion of possessing controlled substances. The arrests followed a latenight traffic stop where authorities reported discovering narcotics in their vehicles. The encounter began around 1:30 a.m. when Burbank police observed a Chevrolet Tahoe towing a Nissan SUV with a tow strap. According to authorities, neither vehicle displayed license plates, and neither James, 63, who was driving the Tahoe, nor Chico, 60, who was a passenger in the towed Nissan, were wearing seatbelts. Officers reported finding narcotics at the scene, leading to the brothers' arrests. Chico DeBarge was also booked on an outstanding warrant, though details of that warrant have not been publicly disclosed. Both vehicles were towed from the scene. The incident adds to a long history of legal troubles for both brothers, which have often been linked to substance abuse. Chico DeBarge, whose legal name is Jonathan DeBarge, has faced numerous drug-related arrests and convictions over several decades.