Vanilla Ice arrested; accused of felony home burglary, grand theft
- Share via
Robert Van Winkle, better known by his stage name Vanilla Ice, was arrested Wednesday in Florida on suspicion of felony home burglary and grand theft.
Van Winkle was arrested after he voluntarily spoke to detectives, Lantana Police Chief Sean Scheller told the Los Angeles Times. “He has been very cooperative.”
The 47-year-old is the star of the home-renovation reality series “The Vanilla Ice Project” on the DIY Network. It is unclear if a home that is part of the series was involved in the incident.
Police began their investigation after numerous items -- including furniture, a pool heater and bicycles -- were removed in December from a foreclosed home across the street from one that Van Winkle is renovating, Scheller said.
Police searched the residence that the “Ice Ice Baby” singer is renovating and found numerous items that had been reported stolen from the foreclosed residence, Scheller said.
Witnesses say Van Winkle was involved in removing the property from the foreclosed home, Scheller said, adding: “Mr. Van Winkle has a different recollection of what happened.”
The chief declined to discuss what Van Winkle said to detectives.
Van Winkle will be housed in the Palm Beach County Jail until he can post bond, Scheller said. It is unclear how soon the entertainer will appear before a judge to set bond.
A representative for Van Winkle declined to comment.
The biggest entertainment stories
Get our big stories about Hollywood, film, television, music, arts, culture and more right in your inbox as soon as they publish.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
