Actor Chris Klein has been slammed by officials of a leading animals rights group for driving under the influence with his dog riding shotgun.
A California Highway Patrol spokesman said Klein, 31, was taken into custody at approximately 3:13 AM Wednesday after the 1999 Chevy Blazer he was driving was seen drifting between lanes on the Los Angeles Freeway. Klein was late released on his own recognizance — but it’s the pet pooch cops found in the vehicle after Chris’ arrest that have animal rights activists fuming.
A spokesperson for the group tells TMZ.com: “By choosing to drive under the influence with his dog in the car, Chris not only put innocent drivers in danger, but broke a promise to be a protector and guardian to his pet.”
Patrol Officer Patrick Kimball told The Los Angeles Times that the star had a blood-alcohol level of .20, far exceeding the legal limit of .08. Klein was also arrested and charged with two misdemeanor counts of DUI in California in 2005 — meaning under state law the actor may have to serve a minimum four-day jail term, if convicted of the offense again.
The actor, whose real name is Frederick Christopher Klein, gained the eye of Hollywood in the late ’90s, after landing roles in raunchy high-school movies Election and American Pie, in which Klein played lovestruck high school jock Chris “Oz” Ostreicher.
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