Philippine actor-TV host Billy Crawford was detained at the Fort Bonifacio Global City police precinct in the early morning hours of September 7, just a few hours after attending his home network's annual red carpet event, the Star Magic Ball.
Crawford was reportedly seen arriving at the precinct with some women to ask for help. Upon hearing that they would have to be brought to the police headquarters, Crawford turned hostile and hit the attending officer, as well as a nearby glass door.
He was then arrested and charged with malicious mischief and disobedience to agents of a person in authority.
TV network ABS-CBN, however, said Crawford did not physically hit anybody, but was just trying to push away the people who were restraining him.
His girlfriend, fellow host and actress Coleen Garcia, was quick to support this claim in a tweet to rival network GMA news, saying that she doubts he would ever hit a woman. The two are currently taking a break from the noontime program, It's Showtime, which they both host.
The actor acknowledged that the precinct incident was his fault, pointing to his aggression as the cause. Crawford clarified that he neither hurt nor pushed anyone, but admitted to breaking the precinct's glass sliding door at the precinct. Cost of damage was placed at P31,000.
He also confessed that he had been drinking that night, which may have added to his irritability. An intoxication test conducted while the actor was detained came out positive for alcohol. He also counted stress and exhaustion as reasons for his aggressive behaviour that night.
Crawford later publicly apologized to the lady officer whom he reportedly hit, saying he had learned a lesson from the incident. Crawford said it was time he lessened his alcohol intake and acted more like a grown up.
