Feb 19, 2009 6:56 pm US/Eastern
Fed Drug Agents Nab 'The Wrestler' Actor In NY
34-Year-Old Actor Scott Siegel Taken Into Police Custody After Leading Police On Car Chase
EASTCHESTER, N.Y. (CBS) ―
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Scott Siegel plays the part of "Greg," a steroids pusher in the hit movie "The Wrestler."
Fox Searchlight Pictures
It appears to be a case of life imitating art: the actor who played a steroid dealer in the film, "The Wrestler" was busted in real life for allegedly distributing steroids.
In the hit critically-acclaimed film starring Mickey Rourke, Scott Siegel plays a small, but crucial role as "Greg," a steroids pusher. Now Siegel is being charged for being just that in reality, after being nabbed by the Drug Enforcement Agency for distributing steroids.
Outside the tanning salon that Siegel owns in Eastchester, Solar Escape Salon, customers were shocked by his arrest.
"It's horrible!" said one stunned customer.
Siegel was nabbed after a frantic chase through central Westchester. DEA agents tried to pull him over, but he allegedly rammed two police cars and crashed his Cadillac SUV, then fled on foot before being captured.
Police say the 34-year-old budding actor also assaulted a federal agent during the incident.
Rourke recently told an interviewer he and the director of "The Wrestler" saw Siegel in a nightclub, thought he'd be perfect for the film and signed him up.
Jimmy Van Doren, the super in the building next to Siegel's salon, spoke to the actor recently about the movie.
"I was a little in shock because he's a nice guy. I just got finished seeing the movie 'The Wrestler,' and I think I was more happy to see him in it than he was," he said.
Late Thursday at White Plains Federal Court, Siegel was denied bond and appeared distraught.
"I'm surprised, I thought we had a very compelling case for release and I'm surprised," said Peter Tilem, Siegel's attorney. "But we live to fight another day and that's not the end of the issue."
Siegel reportedly planned to go to Hollywood for the Oscars this weekend, a trip now on hold after the real life drama of Wednesday night.
The incident isn't Siegel's first time in trouble with the law. He has a prior conviction for selling steroids and ecstasy.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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