A predawn traffic stop in Burbank early Friday landed two brothers from the famed DeBarge musical family in handcuffs. James DeBarge, 63, and Jonathan “Chico” DeBarge were arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance after officers pulled over a Chevy Tahoe towing a Nissan SUV around 1:30 a.m., according to police.
Burbank police say they observed the Tahoe towing the Nissan with a tow strap rather than a proper hitch, and that neither vehicle displayed license plates, as reported by NBC Los Angeles. Officers also noted that James and Chico were not wearing seatbelts, per police. James was behind the wheel of the Tahoe while Chico occupied the Nissan. During the stop, officers reported finding narcotics at the scene, leading to both men being arrested on suspicion of drug possession.
An Outstanding Warrant Adds to Chico's Trouble
Chico DeBarge was additionally booked on an outstanding warrant, though details about that warrant were not immediately available, the outlet's report notes. Both SUVs were towed from the scene following the arrests. NBCLA reported it reached out to the DeBarge brothers for comment.
The traffic infractions cited in the stop reflect specific requirements under California law. State vehicle code requires towed vehicles on public roadways to be secured with approved hitch and safety connections rather than tow straps, and mandates visible license plates on both the front and rear of a vehicle, according to FindLaw. Separately, California law authorizes officers to tow and impound vehicles without prior notice when a driver is arrested or when a vehicle lacks valid registration and plates, per Cron Israels & Stark — which explains why both the Tahoe and the Nissan were impounded after the arrests.
Simple Possession Carries Misdemeanor Penalties
Under California Health and Safety Code Section 11377(a), simple possession of a controlled substance such as methamphetamine is generally charged as a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in county jail, a framework established after the passage of Proposition 47 in 2014, according to the Shouse Law Group. Any outstanding warrant or prior felony record, however, could raise the legal stakes for either brother as the case moves forward.
A Family Legacy Shadowed by Repeated Arrests
James and Chico DeBarge are members of the DeBarge musical family, whose group DeBarge produced R&B and pop hits including “Rhythm of the Night” and “I Like It” during the 1970s and 1980s. Lead vocalist Eldra “El” DeBarge earned five Grammy nominations over the course of his career, underscoring the family's mainstream musical prominence at their 1980s peak, according to Complex.
James DeBarge's public profile extends beyond music: he was married to pop superstar Janet Jackson in September 1984, though the marriage was annulled in November 1985 amid his early struggles with drug addiction, according to the New Pittsburgh Courier. James was previously arrested in South Los Angeles in April 2014 on suspicion of methamphetamine possession and was held without bail at the time due to prior convictions for drug possession and assault with a deadly weapon, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Chico DeBarge has openly discussed his struggles with addiction through his music, releasing a sixth album titled “Addiction” that addressed the impact of substance abuse. He launched his solo career with Motown Records in 1986, reaching No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 with his hit single “Talk to Me,” before serving a prison sentence on drug trafficking charges in the late 1980s, according to Wikipedia. He went on to release additional solo albums through the 1980s and 1990s.
Burbank Has Seen This Pattern Before
Friday's arrests are far from the first time Burbank police have encountered members of the DeBarge family. Chico DeBarge was arrested in the city in January 2021 on drug possession and DUI charges after officers pulled him over for driving without headlights or license plates; during that stop he falsely told police he was his older brother James, according to TMZ. He was also arrested for methamphetamine possession in Burbank in November 2019 after officers spotted him using a wire in a parking lot, and again in November 2021 inside an impounded motorhome.
El DeBarge, another brother, was arrested by Burbank police at a local gas station in January 2023 on suspicion of drug possession and carrying an illegal weapon, after officers initially stopped his vehicle for expired tags, Complex reported. Taken together, the incidents point to a recurring pattern of Burbank traffic stops escalating into drug-related arrests for members of the family across more than half a decade.
