According to news reports in Detroit, the 43-year-old actor appeared unsteady, smelled of alcohol and failed several sobriety tests last Friday around 9:15 p.m. His blood alcohol level was 0.15, well over the 0.10 legal alcohol limit in Michigan.
"From all accounts, Mr. Allen cooperated with authorities during the time he was questioned and in custody," said Bloomfield Township Police Lt. James Anas. Allen was held for three hours by police and given a drunken-driving ticket. He was released after his lawyer, Michael Novak, posted a $100 bond.
Allen has entered no plea to a charge of operating under the influence of intoxicating liquor, according to a township clerk. His attorney, Michael Novak, filed papers waiving the need for Allen to make a personal appearance at an arraignment. A hearing has been scheduled for June 25.
The former stand-up comedian served two years in federal prison for selling cocaine to an undercover cop in the late '70s and has made some strong statements against drug use. "I felt guilty about being part of that problem," Allen told the Los Angeles Times in 1991. "And then I wanted to preach. 'Stop it!' I wanted to stop (the nation's cocaine problem). But nobody wanted to hear that from a comic."
Audiences have supported almost everything else Allen has done. In addition to starring in the hit ABC comedy Home Improvement for the past six years, Allen has scored hits with the films The Santa Clause and Jungle 2 Jungle. He's also written a best-seller, Don't Stand Too Close To a Naked Man. The actor, currently filming a movie in Baltimore, was unavailable for comment.