Dick Quest Heads to Rehab

This is a real shocker. A week after being busted in Central Park with some crystal meth and in the midst of performing some weird kind of circus act with a noose wrapped around his neck and genitals, CNN's own Richard Quest is headed to a rehab facility.

Naturally, the good folks at CNN are keeping his seat warm until he returns. Can't ever let a major talent like this slip away.

Like so many Lohans and Spears before him, CNN anchor Richard Quest has checked himself in to a drug-treatment facility. Quest accepted the deal to enter rehab in order avoid jail time for his arrest last Friday. According to The Guardian, CNN has issued a statement confirming that Quest had entered a "drug rehabilitation facility" on the orders of a judge. "At this time, CNN's primary concern is for his health and well being. We look forward to Richard returning to CNN International," the statement said.

If you hadn't heard about this story it's no surprise since there's been a virtual media blackout since it first broke last week. It's tough when one of their own is found with in a compromising position, let alone being nabbed with sex toys and a noose wrapped around his private parts.

Police found Quest in Central Park at 3:40 a.m. on Friday and initially stopped him for violating park curfew because the park is closed from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. However, a subsequent search revealed that he had a small bag of methamphetamine in his pocket (a fact confirmed when he told the officer, “I’ve got some meth in my pocket”). Officers also found a sex toy in his boot, and a rope around his neck that was tied around his genitals. For backstory, Gawker has all the breathless coverage. Quest was arrested and arraigned on a charge of loitering and a misdemeanor charge of possessing methamphetamine.

CNN's 'Knotty' Boy

Since I rarely ever watch CNN, I have to say I've never heard of this freak. But what the hell, this story is so amusing, I figured I'd mention it.

This is CNN? Kinky!

CNN personality Richard Quest was busted in Central Park early yesterday with some drugs in his pocket, a rope around his neck that was tied to his genitals, and a sex toy in his boot, law-enforcement sources said.

Quest, 46, was arrested at around 3:40 a.m. after a cop spotted him and another man inside the park near 64th Street, a police source said.

The criminal complaint against Quest said the park was closed at the time - something Quest should have known because of all the signs saying "Park Closed 1 a.m. to 6 a.m."

Quest was initially busted for loitering, the source said. Aside from the oddly configured rope, the search also turned up a sex toy inside of his boot, and a small bag of methamphetamine in his left jacket pocket.

It wasn't immediately clear what the rope was for.

Seems to me it was for some kinky gay sex bit.

The criminal complaint says the officer at the scene was able to ID the drug because of "his prior experience as a police officer in drug arrests, observation of packaging which is characteristic of this type of drug, and defendant's statements that . . . 'I've got some meth in my pocket.' "

He was charged with loitering and criminal possession of a controlled substance. His unusual get-up didn't lead to a lewdness charge because he wasn't exposing himself, the police source said.

Quest's unidentified companion was given a summons for not carrying any identification, the source said.

Quest's lawyer, Alan Abramson, had a much more innocuous version of events.

"Mr. Quest didn't realize that the park had a curfew," Abramson said. He was simply "returning to his hotel with friends."

Sure. Just returning to his hotel with a rope wrapped around his balls.

OK.

Update: Thanks to Instapundit for the link.

Update II: Ace links. Thanks!