Canadian police arrest Randy Quaid and his wife

[October 23, 2010]  VANCOUVER (AP) -- Canadian police have arrested actor Randy Quaid and his wife Evi on U.S. warrants related to vandalism charges.

The two were picked up Thursday afternoon in an affluent Vancouver neighborhood and face an immigration hearing.

Vancouver police refused to release the couple's names, saying they weren't charged with anything in Canada. But in California, a prosecutor said Friday that Quaid and his wife were arrested in Canada and their bail increased to $500,000 apiece.

The Quaids are wanted in Santa Barbara, where they missed a court hearing Monday on felony vandalism charges.

Santa Barbara County Senior Deputy District Attorney Lee Carter said the Quaids had been arrested in British Columbia and a judge raised their bail Friday morning.

A U.S. judge issued arrest warrants Monday for the couple after they failed to show up at a California court hearing stemming from their arrests last month on suspicion of illegally squatting at a home.

Quaid and his wife face felony vandalism charges after more than $5,000 in damage was found in a guesthouse of a Montecito, Calif., home they had previously owned.

Vancouver Police said the couple were picked up after police were "called for assistance." An officer ran a check on their identities and learned they were wanted on outstanding warrants in the United States, the force said in a news release.

Police refused to elaborate on why the call for help was made.

The Canada Border Services Agency took the pair into custody and they were held in the Vancouver jail until Friday morning.

They were to appear Friday afternoon for a mandatory detention review hearing. Calls to the Immigration and Refugee Board were not returned.

The Quaids frequently missed court appearances in an earlier U.S. case involving charges they defrauded an innkeeper. That case was resolved in April with Evi Quaid pleading no contest to a misdemeanor. The charges against her husband were dropped.

Randy Quaid, 60, is best-known for supporting roles in films such as "Independence Day" and "National Lampoon's Vacation." He is the older brother of Dennis Quaid.

[Associated Press]

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