Boxing star Ryan Garcia was arrested Saturday night at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Beverly Hills on suspicion of felony vandalism, authorities said.
A shift commander with the Beverly Hills Police Department confirmed the arrest but could not answer other questions. Media representatives for the city and police agencies did not immediately respond to requests for comment Sunday morning.
The boxer’s attorney, Darin Chavez, told ESPN that his client could also face public intoxication charges, saying the Victorville-born athlete has recently been dealing with family and mental health issues Fight.
“Ryan has spoken publicly about his struggles with mental health issues for years, and he is currently carrying a huge emotional burden,” Chavez said in a statement to ESPN. “As he deals with these personal challenges, the support of fans and the public and understanding are critical. We are working hard to provide Ryan with the resources he needs.
An employee who answered the phone at the hotel Sunday morning referred all questions to police, citing guest privacy policies.
Garcia, 25, will not automatically be required to hold bail on the felony destruction charge. The case will now likely be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Garcia (25-1, 20 KOs) made headlines in April when he defeated undefeated World Boxing Council super lightweight champion Devin Haney via decision in Brooklyn. The fight was mired in controversy – Garcia was over the 140-pound weight limit, so the WBC welterweight title didn’t change hands. Garcia has since tested positive for banned substances.
Observers also noted that Garcia had been inconsistent leading up to the fight and had made strange posts on social media. That trend continued Saturday afternoon. Just hours before his arrest, Garcia posted to X about people protecting “pedos” (short for pedophiles) and complained that he hadn’t been paid for the Haney fight.
“Everyone is disgusting [expletive] Trying to cover up their mistakes,” Garcia wrote in his last post around 3 p.m. Saturday.
