Weiland Busted For Heroin, Tour Canceled
Scott Weiland continued to buttress his dubious
reputation Monday when the 30-year-old frontman for the
Stone Temple Pilots was arrested in New York’s
East Village and charged with criminal trespassing and criminal
possession of a controlled substance — what police say was $100
worth of heroin. Weiland was released on his own recognizance after
pleading “not guilty” at an arraignment Monday night. The case will
go before a judge on July 31.
According to the police report, Weiland was arrested at 3 p.m.
Monday afternoon when he was observed walking inside the Wald
Houses on 20 Avenue D. Police say Weiland didn’t respond to
questions about his reasons for being there and was consequently
arrested for criminal trespassing at the housing development, a
reputed drug-mart. It was then the officers discovered 10 decks of
heroin on his person worth around $10 each, police said.
“Usually, in the vast majority of these cases, the [offender] is
not given a jail sentence even if he’s found guilty,” said
Weiland’s attorney, Robert Malina. “I don’t think someone accused
of what Scott’s accused of, which is a misdemeanor, and who is a
first offender, and has never been convicted of anything in his
life, [would serve time].”
Though Weiland’s never been convicted of drug possession, he
spent time in rehab two years ago stemming from a May 1995 arrest
and charge of heroin and cocaine possession. After his release, the
Stone Temple Pilots regrouped and resumed touring behind their
Tiny Music … Songs From the Vatican Gift Shop album.
That tour was abruptly canceled in December 1996 when Weiland
relapsed again and returned to rehab, his 14th stint over a
three-year period. With regard to another go at rehabilitation,
Malina says “sentencing someone to a drug program is not a
component of sentences normally, unless the defendant agrees to
it.”
Two weeks ago, Weiland denied rumors he was once again dancing
with Mr. Brownstone, tersely telling the Rolling Stone Network,
“Oh, there’s always rumors. I really don’t think about [them] too
much.” He also said preliminary plans were underway to record again
with STP. What this arrest will do to those plans is unknown.
However, in the past, fellow STP members Dean
and Robert DeLeo and Eric Kretz
have shown little patience with regard to Weiland’s recidivism, and
have gone so far as to form a side-project, Talk
Show, featuring themselves with Dave
Coutts in place of Weiland. In April 1997, STP guitarist
Dean DeLeo told Rolling Stone, “When you’ve got a person
like this [Weiland] in your life, it’s hard. You’ve been granted
all the things in life you want to do, and when one person pulls
the rug out from under you, it’s the worst.”
Weiland’s arrest was made hours before Weiland was scheduled to
perform hisfourth-to-last show on his first-ever solo tour at New
York’s Irving Plaza.That show, last night’s scheduled performance
at Philadelphia’s Electric Factory,and upcoming dates in Los
Angeles and San Diego were cancelled. A statementissued by Atlantic
Records said, “Scott Weiland’s case is currently in thecourts. It
would be inappropriate for us to comment until the outcome of
thecase is determined. Scott is an exceptionally gifted artist, and
our thoughtsand prayers are with him during this extremely
difficult time.”