Former world champion boxer Ryan Garcia was arrested on suspicion of felony vandalism for allegedly causing an estimated $15,000 worth of damage at a hotel in Beverly Hills, authorities said Sunday.
Officers were dispatched at about 5:15 p.m. Saturday to the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, 9850 Wilshire Blvd., for an “intoxicated person” call for service, according to Lt. Andrew Meyers of the Beverly Hills Police Department.
They determined that Garcia was the intoxicated person and a registered guest at the hotel, where he allegedly caused damage to a guest room and the hallway of the hotel, Meyers said.
“Hotel management requested the arrest of Mr. Garcia for property damage,” he added.
The 25-year-old Porter Ranch resident was arrested on suspicion of felony vandalism. After he was booked at the BHPD jail, police said the 15-time national amateur champion complained of a medical issue and was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for evaluation.
“I feel like I’m Ryan Spears. Aka Britney Spears,” Garcia posted on X late Sunday morning. “This sucks 🙁 I never hurt anyone. I’ve only ever loved everyone prayed for people. And try to make a change in this cruel world. I love you Christ Jesus Amen.”
Garcia, who was born in Victorville, is 25-1 in his professional career with 20 knockouts. He was the World Boxing Council interim lightweight champion from Jan. 2-May 24, 2021, winning the title when he stopped Luke Campbell in the seventh round, but was stripped of it after withdrawing from a planned title defense against former World Boxing Association super featherweight champion Javier Fortuna in order to “manage his health and well being.”
Garcia suffered his only defeat in February 2023, losing by TKO to WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis.
His April 20 upset victory over World Boxing Council super lightweight champion Devin Haney was marred when Garcia tested positive for the performance-enhancing drug Ostarine the day before and the day of the fight, according to the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association. Garcia’s attorneys said he was a victim of “supplement contamination.”
The Haney bout was not a title fight because Garcia failed to make the fight’s 140-pound limit.
“Ryan has been open about his struggles with mental health over the years, and at this time he is dealing with an immense emotional burden,” his attorney Darin Chavez said in a statement provided to ESPN. “The support and understanding from fans and the public are crucial as he navigates these personal challenges. We are working diligently to provide Ryan with the resources he needs.”
