Gibson 'abused officer' after drink-drive arrest

What is it about stars and booze and Malibu's Pacific Coast Highway? First Robert Downey Jnr was arrested there on suspicion of drink-driving 10 years ago. Then Nick Nolte was arrested, and his mug-shot famously circulated, after he was nabbed for the same reason back in 2002. Now it is the turn of Mel Gibson.

The actor and director was arrested in the early hours of Friday after he was seen by police doing 80mph in his Lexus Coupé ­ more than twice the legal speed limit ­ at around 2.30am. Police smelled alcohol, and tests showed Gibson's blood-alcohol level was 0.12 per cent, while the legal limit in California is 0.08 per cent. Initial media reports said the Oscar winner was arrested without incident, taken into custody at the Malibu-Lost Hills station, and released on $5,000 (£2,700) bail.

The TMZ.com celebrity news website said that Gibson, 50, was abusive, and told one officer: "I'm going to fuck you. You're going to regret you ever did this to me."

TMZ.com also claims that the officer, sheriff's deputy James Mee, was told to rewrite his report, leaving out some of the more lurid detail.

In a statement released by his agent yesterday, Gibson said: "After drinking alcohol on Thursday night, I did a number of things that were very wrong and for which I am ashamed. I drove a car when I should not have, and was stopped by the LA County sheriffs.

"The arresting officer was just doing his job and I feel fortunate that I was apprehended before I caused injury to any other person. I acted like a person completely out of control when I was arrested, and said things that I do not believe to be true and which are despicable. I am deeply ashamed of everything I said."

Gibson, who won a best director Oscar in 1995 for Braveheart, in which he also starred, added: " I take this opportunity to apologise to the deputies involved for my belligerent behaviour... I disgraced myself and my family... and for that I am truly sorry."

Gibson is a member of Alcoholics Anonymous. He added: "I have battled the disease of alcoholism for all of my adult life and profoundly regret my horrific relapse."

In 2004 he used his own money to produce and direct the controversial film The Passion of the Christ, which grossed more than $600m around the world.

The father of seven almost blew the audition for his breakthrough film, Mad Max, when he turned up bruised after a drunken brawl.

A spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Steve Whitmore, insisted that Gibson would be shown "no favouritism".