It seems it was a difficult Friday night for iconic comedian Paul Rodriguez, who was arrested during a traffic stop for alleged drug possession.

According to TMZ, the 70-year-old comedian was driving in Burbank when he was pulled over for a traffic violation. The stop escalated when his vehicle was searched, leading to his arrest for suspected narcotics possession.

Rodriguez was taken into custody but denied ownership of the drugs, claiming the officer behaved inappropriately during the search. According to the Daily Mail, Rodriguez believed the incident had racial motivations.

At the time of the traffic stop, Rodriguez was reportedly asleep in the passenger seat. He described the officer, whom he identified as “Caucasian,” allegedly slapping him to wake him up.

As for the drugs, Rodriguez claimed they belonged to his friend, who had been driving the car. Despite his friend’s admission that the narcotics were hers, Rodriguez was still arrested. He claimed he was “roughed up” during the incident, and his vehicle was impounded.

Officials later reported that Rodriguez was cited and released for misdemeanor drug possession. The case will be forwarded to the city’s attorney for review, although no comment was made on Rodriguez’s allegations.

Rodriguez has faced some tough times recently, including the death of his longtime friend, Donald Serrato, who passed away while staying at the comedian’s Los Angeles home. Reports indicated that Serrato died of natural causes.

In 2021, Rodriguez underwent quadruple bypass surgery.

Rodriguez’s comedy career spans over 40 years, with appearances on high-profile TV shows like The Golden Girls, Touched by an Angel, and The Twilight Zone. He’s also lent his voice to cartoons like King of the Hill, Dora the Explorer, and The Proud Family.