AP PhotoIt's a Barenaked shame.
Barenaked Ladies' singer and guitarist Steven Page was arrested Friday in upstate New York and charged with possession of cocaine, a police spokesman confirmed.
According to the Manlius Police Department, the 38-year-old musician and two women were holed up in an apartment in Fayetteville, just outside of Syracuse, at approximately 2 a.m. Friday, when a patrol unit arrived on scene to inspect a nearby car with its driver's side door left open.
While investigating the "suspicious vehicle," officers noticed Page and 25-year-old companion Stephanie Ford seated in an apartment kitchen with "an unknown white capsule in front of them." After confronting the pair, police performed a field test and determined the substance was cocaine.
The two were taken into custody and booked on felony criminal possession of a controlled substance. Ford was also charged with marijuana possession. The third woman who resided in the apartment, 27-year-old Christine Benedicto, was not present at the time of the others' arrest. She was booked a few hours later on a misdemeanor pot-posession count.
Page was released after posting a $10,000 bond. Ford was released on $5,000 bond, and Benedicto was released on her own recognizance. All three are due in court on Thursday.
"Many of you have probably read or heard press accounts about Steven Page's recent arrest in New York State," the band says in a "note to the fans" on its website.
"Steven has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and the validity of the charges against Steven will be strongly contested. While this is happening, it's business as usual for Barenaked Ladies."
Page cofounded the Barenaked Ladies with guitarist-singer Ed Robertson in 1988 in Toronto, and the group quickly found success in Canada after the release of their 1992 debut album, Gordon.
The Ladies broke through stateside in the late '90s with the hits "One Week" and "Pinch Me." Their latest release is the kiddie album Snacktime, which dropped in May. The band is scheduled to head into the studio later this year for a new album.