TV Actor Accused of Driving Recklessly

Actor Todd Bridges, a star in the television series “Diff’rent Strokes,” was arrested on suspicion of reckless driving in Northridge, his third arrest in less than five years, Los Angeles police said Monday.

Officers approached Bridges, 22, of Sun Valley after stopping his 1980 BMW at 9:30 p.m. Sunday. They drew their weapons when they recognized the actor because a police advisory broadcast two days earlier reported that his family had reported Bridges was suicidal and possibly armed with a gun, police said.

The police handcuffed Bridges, but found no weapon. Officers later learned that Bridges’ family had canceled the advisory when they had determined that Bridges was all right, police said.

Police said Bridges was stopped on Parthenia Street at Corbin Avenue for going 80 m.p.h. in a 35 m.p.h. zone and running two red lights. He was arrested on suspicion of reckless driving and released on $225 bail.

Concealed Handgun

In July, 1983, Bridges was arrested by Beverly Hills police for carrying a concealed handgun in his car. He pleaded guilty, was fined $240 and placed on probation for a year.

In 1986, after ABC canceled “Diff’rent Strokes,” Bridges pleaded no contest to a felony charge of making a bomb threat against a Van Nuys businessman hired to customize the actor’s car. Bridges had been accused of planting a homemade bomb that exploded inside a car owned by the businessman. No one was injured.

Bridges was sentenced to one year in County Jail, but a judge ruled that the jail term could be lifted if Bridges saw a psychiatrist and performed 300 hours of community service. The exact disposition of the case was unavailable Monday. Bridges could not be contacted for comment.