The comedian and actor Paul Rodriguez has been at a restaurant in Burbank, California, after police allegedly found drugs in his car.

On Monday, he was taken into custody following a search of his vehicle, where officers reportedly discovered Xanax and what they believed to be fentanyl, as police reported to NBC4 Los Angeles.

Police said Rodriguez denied that the drugs reportedly discovered during his latest arrest belonged to him.

This comes after the 70-year-old comic was arrested in March for drug possession, though he also denied at the time that the drugs belonged to him.

The Daily Mail has contacted Rodriguez’s representatives to request comment but hasn’t yet received a response.

The incident occurred at an Islands restaurant in the LA County area when officers were called for a welfare check on a woman who was with Rodriguez.

The 70-year-old comedian and actor, Paul Rodriguez, was present at a restaurant in Burbank, California, after officers allegedly found narcotics in his vehicle, as per police reports to NBC4 Los Angeles on Wednesday; shown on January 23 in LA.

He was arrested on Monday after officers searched the vehicle and allegedly found Xanax, as well as what they suspected was fentanyl. Police said Rodriguez denied that the drugs reportedly discovered during his latest arrest belonged to him; seen in 2021 in West Hollywood

According to police, Rodriguez and the woman were driving away from the restaurant when they arrived, but they allegedly stopped to speak with officers. 

They reportedly arrested the woman on suspicion of drug possession, which led police to search the car before arresting Rodriguez on suspicion of misdemeanor possession of narcotics.

According to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department records, Rodriguez was booked shortly after 10 p.m. on Monday and released after 6 a.m. on Tuesday morning with a citation. 

Back in March, the film and television star was arrested on misdemeanor drug possession charges after police initially pulled him over for a traffic violation.

But Rodriguez denied the charges in a statement to TMZ at the time, and he claimed the traffic stop was racially motivated.

He said he had been sleeping in the passenger seat while a female friend was driving the car, and after police pulled them over an officer allegedly slapped him in the face to wake him up. 

Rodriguez accused the officer of being on a ‘power trip,’ and he claimed the drugs allegedly discovered by police during the stop were not his and instead belonged to the friend behind the wheel.

He claimed that the woman also told police that the drugs belonged to her during the stop. 

Officers were reportedly called to an Islands restaurant in Burbank for a wellness check on a woman accompanying Rodriguez. She was arrested, and police then arrested him after searching their car; pictured in May 2024 in Pasadena, Calif.

According to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department records, Rodriguez was booked shortly after 10 p.m. on Monday and released after 6 a.m. on Tuesday morning with a citation; pictured at the Laugh Factory’s free Thanksgiving dinner in 2021 in West Hollywood

The comedian was arrested for misdemeanor drug possession after a traffic stop in March, but charges were later dropped. Rodriguez claimed the stop was racially motivated and accused an officer of slapping him in the face; seen in September in Pasadena

In April, the Burbank City Attorney confirmed that his office had dropped the charges against Rodriguez due to insufficient evidence.

In response to the development, Rodriguez’ lawyer Bobby Samini said in a statement: ‘My client commends the City Attorney for their determination in this matter. It is without doubt that Mr. Rodriguez was innocent and never possessed any controlled substance.

‘Mr. Rodriguez maintained his innocence and rejected the assertion by Burbank PD that he committed any crime,’ Samini continued. ‘He is grateful for the support he received from his fans, family and friends throughout this difficult time.’ 

His recent run-ins with the law come amid a challenging period for the comedian. 

In November of last year, Rodriguez’s longtime friend, Donald Serrato, died from natural causes while staying at Rodriguez’s Los Angeles home. 

Additionally, in 2021, the comedian underwent quadruple bypass surgery.

Serrato had sold his own home in Torrance and was staying at Rodriguez’ residence in the Los Angeles area for some days before he planned to move to Montana at the time of his death. 

Law enforcement sources said the authorities believe Serrato died of natural causes, and do not suspect drugs or foul play were involved.

The performer’s arrests come amid a difficult period for him. In March, he suffered a tragedy when his longtime friend, Donald Serrato, died from natural causes while staying at his LA home. The comedy also underwent quadruple bypass surgery in 2021; seen in 1998

Rodriguez is a popular stand-up comedian who is also known for briefly hosting The Newlywed Game, as well as appearing in films, including Clint Eastwood’s thriller Blood Work, the Will Smith–starring biopic Ali and the comedy Rat Race, among others; seen in 1994 in LA

His son is a famous skateboarder also called Paul Rodriguez (right), who goes by P-Rod on social media and boats over a million followers on Instagram

At the time, Rodriguez said he felt Serrato’s alleged heavy drinking and smoking — as well as his grief over two bereavements in his family — may have contributed to his demise.

Rodriguez, who was born in Sinaloa before immigrating to Compton with his family, has been a comedian for more than four decades. 

He is a regular on the stand-up circuit, and is one of the elite group of comedians whose photos are on the wall of the iconic Comedy Store in Los Angeles.

Early in his career, Rodriguez even led the cast of his own sitcom a.k.a. Pablo in 1984, thought it was canceled after six episodes.

Over the years, fans have seen him on top television programs including The Golden Girls, Touched By An Angel and The Twilight Zone. 

He is also known for briefly hosting The Newlywed Game in 1988, as well as appearing in several feature films, including Clint Eastwood’s thriller Blood Work, the Oscar-nominated Will Smith–starring biopic Ali and the ensemble comedy Rat Race, among others. 

He has also lent his voice to cartoons like King Of The Hill, Dora The Explorer, The Proud Family and the animated film Cats & Dogs: The Return Of Kitty Galore.

His son is a famous skateboarder also called Paul Rodriguez, who goes by P-Rod on social media and boats over a million followers on Instagram.