Actor Nick Nolte arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and released

<br>MALIBU, Calif. (AP) _ Nick Nolte was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and released after a California Highway Patrol officer saw his Mercedes-Benz swerving on a highway near his

Thursday, September 12th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

MALIBU, Calif. (AP) _ Nick Nolte was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and released after a California Highway Patrol officer saw his Mercedes-Benz swerving on a highway near his home.

The officer was ticketing another driver just after noon Wednesday when he noticed Nolte's car weaving on southbound Pacific Coast Highway, Capt. Dan Bower said.

The officer pulled Nolte over and gave him a sobriety test, which the 61-year-old actor failed, Bower said.

Nolte was handcuffed and taken to a Los Angeles County sheriff's station for booking. He was in custody until about 8:30 p.m., when he was cited and released on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The highway patrol scheduled a news conference for Thursday morning to discuss the arrest.

Nolte's publicist, Arnold Robinson, said: ``We have no comment at this time.''

Although Nolte was booked for investigation of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, Bower said ``it probably wasn't alcohol.'' Blood tests to determine whether he had drugs in his system won't be available for several days, he added.

Nolte had a reputation as a heavy drinker for years, once describing himself as a ``functioning drunk.'' But in the mid-1990s, he reportedly quit alcohol and became a fitness buff.

He was nominated for best-actor Oscars for 1991's ``The Prince of Tides'' and 1997's ``Affliction.'' He also received an Emmy nomination for his breakout role as Tom Jordache in the 1976 TV miniseries ``Rich Man, Poor Man.''