'NYPD Blue' Star Finds Herself in Trouble With the Law
When you play a detective for 137 episodes of a cop-procedural television show, you never want to find yourself on the other side of the law. Former NYPD Blue star Kim Delaney, who played Detective Diane Russell, found herself in handcuffs on March 29 in Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Police Department was called to her home for a domestic disturbance, per TMZ. Delaney and her partner (it's unclear if they are officially married), James Morgan, were allegedly involved in a verbal argument that turned physical. The media outlet reported that they were "medically cleared," but they both found themselves in handcuffs.
Delaney was charged with felony assault likely to cause great bodily injury while Morgan was arrested for misdemeanor domestic violence. Delaney's entanglement with law enforcement isn't a new experience for her though.
In 2002, Delaney was arrested for suspicion of drunk driving in Malibu after refusing to take a breathalyzer test. She pleaded no contest and received two years’ probation, a fine, and was ordered to take a defensive driving course. A year later, she checked herself into a rehab facility to deal with her alcohol abuse.
Her struggles continued just two years later when she lost custody of her 15-year-old son, Jack Cortese, whom she shares with ex-husband Joe Cortese. The teen testified that he was forced to ride with her while she was allegedly intoxicated. In 2011, Delaney had fans worried after she delivered a slurry speech at an event honoring the retiring Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
Delaney was sued by a motorcyclist in 2024 for reportedly crashing into him at a red light in November 2022. She drove away ahead of the police's arrival. She had to complete 50 hours of community service for the accident and attend a Mothers Against Drunk Driving program (MADD).
Related: Is the NFL Doing a Good Job of Stopping Domestic Violence?