04/18/2008
CNN's Richard Quest Arrested in Central Park on Drug Charge
Richard Quest, the host of CNN's "Business Traveler" and "Quest" and an international correspondent for the network, is being arraigned today on a misdemeanor drug possession charge after an overnight arrest in New York's Central Park:
"Mr. Quest was arrested early Friday morning after being escorted out of Central Park for violating the park curfew, a law enforcement official said Friday. The park is closed from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. The police noticed Mr. Quest at 64th Street and West Drive at about 3:40 a.m., the official said. As he was being escorted out, he volunteered, 'I have meth in my pocket,' according to an official briefed on the case. The police searched him and recovered a small amount of methamphetamine in a Ziploc bag."
Quest, who is gay and British, began his career at the BBC, and joined CNN in 2001.
AFTER THE JUMP, one of Quest's "Quest" segments...
Posted 4:44 PM EST by Andy Towle in New York, News, Richard Quest | Permalink
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you can't blame the girl for wanting to indulge in a bit of tina, after all working at cnn must be stressful as hell so I think a relaxing stroll in the park was called for -- anyway I'm going to have to counter this with a new republican gay sex scandal:
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/04/all_muck_is_local.php
Posted by: the queen | Apr 18, 2008 4:57:12 PM
dumbass.
Posted by: Michael W. | Apr 18, 2008 4:58:19 PM
Quest, of all people? Not a lot angers me about our community, but the meth problem is pathetic. Good job, us!
Posted by: Cameron S. | Apr 18, 2008 5:13:12 PM
Now maybe he can enter rehab for that weird voice of his, these druggies cross all boundaries of class and employment. And, meth no less, poor thing should know that is as bad if not worse than crack.
And, he's gay, never knew that nor suspected, just thought he was British with his mannerisms, and, was he looking for drugs or as Derrick says, trade?!
Posted by: Sebastian | Apr 18, 2008 5:23:27 PM
he just happened to "volunteer" that he had meth in his pocket?? wtf!
Posted by: marc | Apr 18, 2008 5:34:42 PM
Meth in his pocket; not brain in his head!
How many gay ice skating fans know that the dent still discernible in long-retired Olympic gold-medalist Dick Button’s forehead anytime they’re watching his commentary is a souvenir of his having been one of six men attacked in Central Park by four baseball bat-wielding teens exactly 30 years ago? Despite The Ramble’s reputation as a gay crusing/sex in the bushes site, Button testified he was “just jogging.”
Posted by: Leland Frances | Apr 18, 2008 5:37:19 PM
I work in Europe and he's quite the character to look forward to when CNN is the only english speaking channel.
He should team up with Pam Ann and do a special segment on how to get your drugs past security! She's already got this as part of her routine, but wouldn't be a hoot if he did an update for her???
I guess he won't be going to the "high profile" CMA meetings where "executives" and "high profile" tweakers can't be bothered with the low life tweakers! WTF
Posted by: DKNATL | Apr 18, 2008 5:51:52 PM
Leland, are you serious? As annoying as I find Button for being so petty with my favorite skaters, that is one story that I've never heard, wow, I'll have to look close at him next time. And, just who is in a park in the midle of the night unless they are looking for sex or drugs??
Posted by: Sebastian | Apr 18, 2008 5:59:18 PM
Button's experience, unlike Quest's [or Kevin Spacey's in London a couple of years back] was after dark but....
Summaries at:
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/SkateFans/message/106545
Posted by: Leland Frances | Apr 18, 2008 6:23:56 PM
Poor Dick, after being fired from the BBC and being picked up on the cheap by CNN, it is sad to see he is a slow learner. I guess he is in the job market again....hmmm lets see gay meth user who cruises...Baptist minister anyone?
Posted by: Clive | Apr 18, 2008 11:01:14 PM
Quest? Really? I didn't know. I guess I will never make it as a gossip comlumnist. Damn.
Posted by: SJ | Apr 19, 2008 12:01:02 AM
When did the police start closing Central park after dark? Some of my most delightful sexual experiences were enjoyed in The Rambles in the wee smalls.
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | Apr 19, 2008 9:51:36 AM
The Ramble, David. Singular.
Posted by: 24play | Apr 19, 2008 12:25:15 PM
24PLAY, I'm not a New Yorker, but I rather imagine that pronouncing it correctly is not essential to it's use.
Posted by: Mike in the Tundra | Apr 19, 2008 1:18:16 PM
Mike,
David is a venerable (read: OLD) queen who is constantly whining that young gays—or, as she likes to call them, "scum"—either don't know their gay history, or don't have appropriate respect for it when they do.
She, of all people, needs to get her shit straight.
Posted by: 24play | Apr 19, 2008 1:46:35 PM
So that's why he has all those HUGE CAPPED TEETH. He had meth-mouth!
Posted by: gregnsf | Apr 19, 2008 3:19:31 PM
bummer! really like this guy - he always seemed so smart and funny! - and was in awe of his amazing energy levels - guess sometimes he needed to supplement that energy - his lifestyle must be exhausting...
i wonder how this will play out with cnn?
Posted by: Ron | Apr 19, 2008 5:50:47 PM
24Play, Technically, you are correct. Fredrick Law Olmstead named it "The Ramble" but even such an august pillar of of New York minutiae and hyper-correctivity, The New York Times, refers to the area as "The Rambles". I spent many a sunny afternoon there working, inter alia, on my tan but left the nighttime activities to the likes of Rudolf Nureyev, Rock Hudson, and Robert Reed. The Pier (at the end of Christopher Street) had the same "ambiance" but was much safer. For that reason, after dark at The Rambles (and every NYC gay boy called it that) was left to the "Danger Queens".
Posted by: rudy | Apr 19, 2008 7:35:49 PM
My favorite disco diva, by far, is Donna Summers.
Posted by: 24play | Apr 19, 2008 8:15:42 PM
In his letters, Sir John Gielgud referred to it as "The Ramblers."
Posted by: Mélisande | Apr 20, 2008 10:43:34 AM
I imagine the reason Sir John found the place so attractive was The Ramblers.
Posted by: 24play | Apr 20, 2008 12:18:17 PM
aand now he can get us an inside scoop of what a
jail cell looks like..up close and personal. real dedication to the job
after being dumbed by BBC this is the last think he needed...his show reminds me of this crazy
bogus comedy clip i found the other day
http://effinfunny.com/fresh-n-funny/politics-november-07
Posted by: kaoticchick | Apr 20, 2008 12:18:48 PM
I love the sentence, "Quest, who is gay and British...". Hahaha. As if it explains not only being in the park trawling for sex, but perhaps the rope around his neck and attached to his genitals reported on in other sources...
Posted by: splash | Apr 20, 2008 8:57:36 PM
I don't quite understand the part about him having a sex toy in his boot. I mean, I've inserted sex toys in a lot of unusual places, but never in my boot. Guess I haven't done enough meth to have thought of that ...
Posted by: MARC | Apr 21, 2008 9:42:29 AM
WHY do people get so freaked out about this kind of thing? OK, so his sex life contains some things you wouldn't choose for yours. THEN DON'T CHOOSE THEM! Go Richard!
Posted by: Rej | Apr 22, 2008 5:30:53 AM