Pennsylvania child actor Jonathan Taylor Thomas was arrested after allegedly kicking a sheriff’s deputy in the stomach.
Jonathan Taylor Thomas is a former child actor who rose to fame in the 1990s. He is best known for playing Randy Taylor on Home Improvement and voicing young Simba in Disney’s The Lion King. He also appeared in films including Tom and Huck, Man of the House, and Wild America before stepping away from acting.
TMZ first reported that the former child actor was arrested for allegedly obstructing or resisting an officer. The arrest came after he was a passenger in a vehicle that was pulled over in Westlake Village, California.
It was reported that the actor initially exited the vehicle before deputies instructed him to remain inside. Jonathan reportedly refused and resisted their orders. It was also claimed that he was intoxicated at the time. He was then arrested and booked at the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station jail before being released later.
TMZ provided additional details about what allegedly led to the arrest. The publication reported that Jonathan allegedly kicked a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy in the stomach. The reported incident then led to his arrest on suspicion of obstruction and public intoxication.
Law enforcement provided additional details about the incident, reporting that the vehicle Jonathan was in was blocking traffic after stopping at an intersection. Deputies then approached the vehicle, leading to the events that followed, including the actor allegedly resisting their instructions.
Fans React to Pennsylvania Child Actor Jonathan Taylor Thomas’ Arrest
Fans online had different reactions to the Pennsylvania actor’s arrest. Following the allegations that Jonathan Taylor Thomas kicked a sheriff’s deputy, some commenters argued that the law enforcement officer needed additional training. “Sounds like the cop needs self defense training,” one person wrote. Another person said, “the way jtt went from tim allyn to the actual booking report is so insane to me. 90s heartthrob arrested for kicking a deputy in the stomach? That’s not even a fun story, that’s just embarrassing for everyone involved.”
More people reacted to the news, with some making additional unverified claims about Jonathan Taylor Thomas. “Apparently him and the one who played the oldest brother Brad have addiction problems. Kids don’t fair well in hollyweird. Most of them end up [expletive] up adults unfortunately,” one person claimed. Another person referenced the actor’s previous roles and joked, “Simba kicked a cop? I gotta see the body cam footage.”
The news of Jonathan’s arrest led to discussion about the challenges some child actors may face later in life. Some people also questioned whether being introduced to Hollywood and the pressures of acting at an early age could contribute to those challenges.
