‘Duke’ a ‘hazard’ with grope arrest
“Dukes of Hazzard” TV star Tom Wopat has been busted for allegedly committing a vile act on an actress working with him in a production of the musical “42nd Street.”
The woman told police the 65-year-old actor was rehearsing the show in Waltham, Mass., on July 23 when he walked behind her and stuck his finger between her butt cheeks, TMZ reported.
When confronted about the allegation, Wopat denied touching the woman and said, “F--k them all,” the gossip site reported, citing a police report.
Wopat also was accused of wrapping his arm around another woman’s hip and pulling her toward him during rehearsals, the police report said.
And he allegedly pulled sunburned skin off a third woman’s arm during rehearsals, authorities said.
When Wopat was arrested Wednesday, he told police he had not touched anyone inappropriately, although he said he “lightly touched” the hip of one woman as she walked by.
According to TMZ, he said he told her, “I like the way you work.”
Waltham police said in a statement that Wopat was arrested at about 11 p.m. Wednesday and that cops found “two bags of white powder believed to be cocaine” in his Ford Bronco.
He pleaded not guilty Thursday in Waltham District Court to a felony charge of indecent assault and battery, and to misdemeanor drug possession.
Wopat posted $1,000 bail and was ordered to stay away from the accuser, witnesses and Waltham HS, where the Reagle Music Theatre’s production was slated to open Thursday, the Boston Globe reported.
Reagle honcho Robert Eagle said in a statement the show would open with Rich Allegretto as Julian Marsh, the role Wopat had been expected to play.