Big Lebowski festival founder arrested on suspicion of smoking marijuana in bowling alley car-park

Will Russell detained after officers spotted him "not acting normal", in a scene reminiscent of stoner movie

The organiser of an event that celebrates all things related to the classic stoner film The Big Lebowski has been arrested on suspicion of smoking marijuana in a bowling alley car-park.

Will Russell was detained outside the Lebowski Fest in Louisville, Kentucky, by police who said he was “not acting normal” in a scene reminiscent of the Coen brothers cemedy.

Russell runs the festival for fans of the 1998 movie, whose protagonist, played by Jeff Bridges, loves bowling, pot, and White Russians and is assaulted by the police.

An arrest report posted online by city police said that Mr Russell, who was with an unnamed co-defendant, took “a bladed stance” and then moved towards officers “with a clinched fist displaying threatening behaviour”.

The Big Lebowski

The sheet said that Russell had apologised to officers for “acting like a savage”.

But Mr Russell, 39, later took to Facebook to claim that police “tackled me and drove my face into the sidewalk”.

WDRB reported that he was charged with possession of marijuana, resisting arrest and menacing, and that he would appear in court on Wednesday.

The Lebowski Fest, which started in Louisville in 2002, now holds events around the country. It is usually held over two days and boasts, naturally, a film screening, bowling and fancy dress.

Much of the The Big Lebowski, which stars Jeff Bridges as "The Dude", takes place in a bowling alley.