Chico DeBarge was arrested after an Aug. 27 traffic stop in Burbank, California, when police reportedly found suspected fentanyl and suspected methamphetamine. James and Chico DeBarge were taken into custody on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance, adding another legal problem for the DeBarge family name.
Burbank traffic stop
Law enforcement sources said officers pulled the brothers over for traffic violations on the night of Aug. 27. James allegedly drove a Chevy Tahoe that towed a Nissan SUV, and Chico was reportedly inside the Nissan during the stop. The two SUVs allegedly had no license plates, and the brothers allegedly failed to wear seat belts.
Police reportedly found suspected fentanyl and suspected methamphetamine during the encounter, then arrested both James and Chico on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance. Chico also allegedly had an outstanding warrant, which raises a separate legal issue beyond the stop itself.
DeBarge family history
During the 1980s and 1990s, the DeBarge family built a reputation as a successful musical family, with hits including Rhythm of the Night and I Like It. That history is why this arrest travels beyond a routine stop: it lands on a name that already carries public recognition.
Chico has previously spoken publicly about addiction struggles, and according to TMZ he previously served time on narcotics-related charges. Put against the reported discovery of suspected fentanyl and suspected methamphetamine, the arrest reads less like a one-off headline than another legal turn for a musician who has already lived through public fallout tied to drugs.
James and Chico
Neither brother had publicly commented on the arrests or the allegations. For now, the practical takeaway is simple: the case is still at the arrest stage, Chico’s warrant remains an open issue, and the next material step would be formal charging or a court filing if prosecutors move ahead.
