LOS ANGELES -- Actor Bruce Willis, co-star of the hit television series 'Moonlighting,' was arrested for assaulting police who broke up a blaring party at his Hollywood Hills home, authorities said Tuesday.
Willis, 32, known for his smart-aleck repartee with actress Cybill Shepherd on the ABC show, apparently re-injured a broken collarbone in the fracas Monday night and was taken to the hospital before being booked on suspicion of assault on a peace officer, Detective Jim Bosse said.
Four other men at the party also were arrested, including the actor's brother, Robert Willis, 28.
Bosse said one of Willis's neighbors called police about 10:15 p.m. to complain about the loud party at the actor's one-story ranch-style home.
'She said Willis had had many previous noisy parties and was unresponsive to neighbors' complaints,' Bosse said. 'There were 25 to 30 people at the party. Most appeared to have been drinking, including Willis.'
Officers Craig Leonard and Grey Sentner knocked on the front door of the house, then yelled over a side fence into the backyard to 'try to get someone's attention,' Bosse said.
'But when no one came out, the officers walked through the gate and around to the back. They opened a glass door and stepped inside to try to find the owner,' he said.
Bosse said Willis appeared seconds later, after one of his guests told him that police were at the house, and yelled, 'What the (expletive deleted) are you doing here without a warrant.'
The officers told him he would have to turn the music down, but Willis 'rushed at the officers with his hands outstretched and yelled, 'You will get out of my (expletive deleted) house,'' Bosse said.
Willis allegedly tried to strike the officers, but was subdued and handcuffed, Bosse said. None of the officers was struck.
As he was being taken to the police car, several of Willis's guests surrounded the officers. One of the men, identified as Michael Harris, 37, tried to assault the officers but then ran back into the house. The others then 'purposely blocked the attempt to arrest Harris,' Bosse said.
More police arrived at the scene, and Harris was arrested after he was found hiding in some bushes.
Willis, wearing only slacks and shoes at the time of his arrest, was taken to Queen of Angels Hospital, where doctors treated his injured left collarbone, broken in early March in a skiing accident at a resort in Sun Valley, Idaho.
Arrested on suspicion of interfering with police were Willis's brother, Robert, Joseph Plewa, 32, a freelance production manager and William Applegate, 29, who told police he was an actor.
Willis and the others were all released after promising to appear in courton June 16.
Bosse said police will ask the City Attorney's Office to file misdemeanor assault charges against Willis.
Willis recently completed his first leading role in a feature film co-starring Kim Basinger in 'Blind Date,' directed by Blake Edwards. Willis is now shooting another Edwards' feature called 'Sunset' with James Garner.
The actor's publicist, Paul Block, refused to comment on the arrest.
