Boxing star Ryan Garcia was arrested on suspicion of felony vandalism at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Beverly Hills on Saturday night, authorities said.
A Beverly Hills Police Department guard commander confirmed the arrest but could not answer additional questions. Representatives of the city's media and law enforcement agency 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 and said the Victorville-born athlete has been struggling with family and mental health issues recently.
“Ryan has been open about his struggles with mental health over the years, and right now he is dealing with an immense emotional burden,” Chavez said in a statement to ESPN. “The support and understanding of fans and the public is crucial as he navigates these personal challenges. “We are working diligently to provide Ryan with the resources he needs.”
An employee who responded to a phone call at the hotel Sunday morning referred all questions to police, citing a guest privacy policy.
Garcia, 25, would not have automatically been required to post bail in connection with a felony vandalism charge. A case will now likely be filed with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.
Garcia (25-1, 20 KOs) made headlines in April when he defeated undefeated WBC super lightweight champion Devin Haney by decision in Brooklyn. The fight has been mired in controversy: Garcia was over the 140-pound weight limit, so the WBC junior welterweight title did not change hands. Garcia has since tested positive for a banned substance.
Observers also noted that Garcia was acting erratically and making strange posts on social media in the lead-up to the fight. That trend continued Saturday afternoon. Just hours before his arrest, Garcia was posting on X about people protecting “pedos,” short for pedophiles, and complaining that he had not yet been paid for the fight with Haney.
“Everyone is disgusting.” [expletive] trying to hide their mistakes,” García wrote in his last post around 3 pm on Saturday.
