Laverne & Shirley Star Arrested After 'Drunken' Crash
8 July 2009 5:01 AM, PDT

Laverne And Shirley actor Eddie Mekka was arrested in Las Vegas on Friday on suspicion of drink driving.

Mekka, who played Carmine 'The Big Ragu' Ragusa in the 1970s Happy Days spin-off, reportedly collided with another car.

According to TMZ.com, police rushed to the scene after receiving a tip-off and administered sobriety tests on the actor.

Mekka was subsequently arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

There were no reported injuries stemming from the incident.

-IMDB News

http://www.tmz.com/2009/07/07/the-big-ragoo-busted-for-dui/

Oh no...

this is the second star to get arrested first Joyce Dewitt and now Eddie Meka.

...you gotta be kidding me - he shoulda just carpooled with Joyce ohno:

What the hell is with the classic sitcom stars this week?! Funny thing is, I was actually offered a ride by Cindy Williams with Eddie driving back in February!

What the hell is with the classic sitcom stars this week?! Funny thing is, I was actually offered a ride by Cindy Williams with Eddie driving back in February!
I have no idea what's wrong with them - some kid from the Harry Potter movies was busted for drugs this week, too. What a shame. ohno:

this is the second star to get arrested first Joyce Dewitt and now Eddie Meka.

Actually WWE's Roddy Piper was the first one to get the DUI; though not a television star.

He didn't get much press because I guess it's "expected" for pro-wrestlers to engage in things like that.

Actually WWE's Roddy Piper was the first one to get the DUI; though not a television star.

He didn't get much press because I guess it's "expected" for pro-wrestlers to engage in things like that.
You're right, I forgot about him. What's with some people lately - it's not too much to ask for a designated driver. ohno:

You haven't made it in show business until you get a DUI! Or so it seems. How sad!

You haven't made it in show business until you get a DUI! Or so it seems. How sad!
Isn't it, though? ohno:

I was going to ask what is with all these idiot celebrities thinking it's okay to drink and drive! Just absolutely ridiculous! It's becoming something of a joke, but I bet they won't be laughing when it turns deadly.

Andrea

You would think celebrities would be able to afford a cab! Or they call their personal assistant to come pick them up! there is no excuse for them to drink and drive.

You would think celebrities would be able to afford a cab! Or they call their personal assistant to come pick them up! there is no excuse for them to drink and drive.
BINGO!!

I'm glad they didn't hurt anybody, including themselves, not to mention kill anybody. Hopefully it turns out to be a wake up call!

Eddie... gees! I hope he uses better judgement next time.

do we know if Eddie has to go to Court for The DUI.

Wow, his mugshot is competing with Joyce DeWitt's for the year's most disturbing. He certainly has let himself go!

Does anyone know how far over the legal limit he was? Or what the limit is for Nevada?

Not that I condone drinking and driving; it's dangerous and selfish, but there is a difference between being a tick over the limit and blowing twice the limit. In some states, the the limit is extremely low, which could lead to a basically responsible person being over it.

I'm also a little curious about the fact that the cops were alerted by a tip that someone was driving erratically, and if they actually witnessed any irregular driving by Mr. Mekka themselves.

Wow, his mugshot is competing with Joyce DeWitt's for the year's most disturbing. He certainly has let himself go!
I agree - scary. :eek:

Does anyone know how far over the legal limit he was? Or what the limit is for Nevada?

Not that I condone drinking and driving; it's dangerous and selfish, but there is a difference between being a tick over the limit and blowing twice the limit. In some states, the the limit is extremely low, which could lead to a basically responsible person being over it.

I'm also a little curious about the fact that the cops were alerted by a tip that someone was driving erratically, and if they actually witnessed any irregular driving by Mr. Mekka themselves.
I couldn't disagree with you more. As far as I'm concerned there is no differance between being a "tick" over the limit and blowing twice the legal limit. Drunk is drunk. Impaired is impaired. And getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol is never responsible no matter how little alcohol you have consumed.

I couldn't disagree with you more. As far as I'm concerned there is no differance between being a "tick" over the limit and blowing twice the legal limit. Drunk is drunk. Impaired is impaired. And getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol is never responsible no matter how little alcohol you have consumed.
Great observation. In Washington the limit is .08, which I hear is pretty low. As much as it burns me up to hear about all these celebs drinking and driving, it burns me up even more to think that a judge might give them a leaner sentence just because of their celeb status. I wonder if all this drinking and driving is due to the fact that the stars want to make themselves look "important".

News flash to celebs who drink and drive: This does nothing but make you look like a jackass and it's NOT COOL!! You should be ASHAMED!!!

Andrea

I couldn't disagree with you more. As far as I'm concerned there is no differance between being a "tick" over the limit and blowing twice the legal limit. Drunk is drunk. Impaired is impaired. And getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol is never responsible no matter how little alcohol you have consumed.

I agree. Even as a big fan, I don't care how much he had to drink. It was the fact that he acted stupid and irresponsibly. He deserves whatever he has coming as a result of it.

Here's the mugshot.

^ What's up with the white spots on his lip?

^ What's up with the white spots on his lip?
No idea. :confused:

No idea. :confused:

I looked into what that was about. That's some gag that Perez Hilton does on his website for mocking celebrities. It's supposed to be semen.

I looked into what that was about. That's some gag that Perez Hilton does on his website for mocking celebrities. It's supposed to be semen.
Ewwwwwwwwwwwwww...puke:

I guess he went from riches to rags.

Shirley Feeney would be so disappointed! :eek:

Shirley Feeney would be so disappointed! :eek:

That tease! I think Carmine took one too many cold showers because of her.

Now, look what happened!

I guess he went from riches to rags.

:rofl:

That tease! I think Carmine took one too many cold showers because of her.

Now, look what happened!
Well, Shirley DID leave him for another guy, so we shouldn't be surprised!

Well, Shirley DID leave him for another guy, so we shouldn't be surprised!

Carmine Ragusa had to have had the biggest set of blue b***s on television.

I agree. Even as a big fan, I don't care how much he had to drink. It was the fact that he acted stupid and irresponsibly. He deserves whatever he has coming as a result of it.


Not agreeing or disagreeing necessarily, but does that go for Joyce DeWitt too?

Ewwwwwwwwwwwwww...puke:

Hey, you found that version of the photo..;)

Hey, you found that version of the photo..;)
That was the first one that showed up on my Google image search. :eek: :lol:

Carmine Ragusa had to have had the biggest set of blue b***s on television.
:spit:

I couldn't disagree with you more. As far as I'm concerned there is no differance between being a "tick" over the limit and blowing twice the legal limit. Drunk is drunk. Impaired is impaired. And getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol is never responsible no matter how little alcohol you have consumed.

Actually there is, especially in a state that has a legal limit that is so low that a normal-sized (NOT celebrity-weight) individual may be over the limit have having one drink WITH a full sized dinner an hour earlier. We all know that drunk driving is a bad thing, but legal limits have been lowered to the point of ridiculous due to our society's reactionary nature.

I'm not defending Mr. Mekka's actions. However, not everything is black or white and there are still a lot of unanswered questions. We also have something in this country called "innocent until proven guilty", although it is becoming a scarce commodity these days.

Not agreeing or disagreeing necessarily, but does that go for Joyce DeWitt too?

Yes...it's the exact same thing.

the spots were the flash i'm guessing. sad this happened to him

the spots were the flash i'm guessing. sad this happened to him

no, that's not flashes... heh

no, that's not flashes... heh


LOL!

I think it's a shame when celebrities go down this road. They need to learn to be responsible. However, it isn't just celebs doing this, it's general public too. It seems to be a product of our "modern" society. Always remember the old saying "just because someone jumps off a bridge, are you going to do that too?" It's better not to follow the crowd, as I have learned in my own life. I have many friends going down the wrong path and I'm glad I'm not joining them because they are possibly going to die at a young age because of poor decision-making.

not carmine!

not carmine!
Take notice that this happened in July 2009, over a year and a half ago!

(sings) "They say he went from riches to raaaags!"