Guest Author - Lizzie Flynn

Former “CSI” star Gary Dourdan was found passed out in his car in Palm Springs on April 28, 2008. Police found heroine, cocaine, ecstasy and various items of drug paraphernalia when they investigated reports of a car parked on the wrong side of the road. Dourdan was then arrested and charged with felony drug possession. He spent a few hours in jail before posting a $5,000 bond.

Dourdan appeared in court May 28, 2008 and pled guilty to two of the three counts, but won’t do any jail time. He agreed, instead, to attend outpatient drug rehabilitation which consists of 30 hours of a “diversion” program. After Mr. Dourdan completes his 30 hours, his drug case will be dismissed in its entirety. Included in his plea bargain is a substantial fine which Dourdan must pay before the end of his program hours.

Gary Dourdan played CSI Warrick Brown on the popular CBS crime drama “CSI” since it first aired in 2001. Prior to his drug arrest he announced that he wouldn’t be returning the show after this season. He stayed on until the end of the season when his character was shot and killed. Dourdan wasn’t clear on his reasons for leaving the show or what he will be doing now that he’s no longer part of the cast.

His Last Episode

In Dourdan’s final “CSI” episode his character is framed for the murder of a strip club owner. The team investigates the evidence- which all leads back to Warrick Brown – and finally concludes that someone is setting him up. Finally the evidence becomes clear and Brown is exonerated. He is congratulated by the team, who take him out to a diner. The team leaves the diner one at a time. When Warrick gets in his car he is greeted by the Under Sheriff McKeen, who wants to congratulate him personally. He also tells Brown that he’s not going to fire him, but that he needs reassurance that Warrick will follow procedure from then on. Warrick assures him that he’s learned his lesson, though he’s going to find the guy who set him up. At that point McKeen shoots Brown in the neck and then throws the gun in the car beside him. The camera fades out on Dourdan’s slumped and dead face.

When the show returns in the fall, the team will mourn Brown at his funeral and then chase down his killer with a vengeance.