Over the weekend, we reported that the former Home Improvement star Zachery Ty Bryan had been arrested for the sixth time in five years. Now, chilling new details have emerged about this arrest. Indeed, they will come as a shock to fans who remember Bryan as a child star in one of the both beloved sitcoms of the 1990s.
Disturbing Details About Bryan’s Arrest
Daily Mail has obtained official records from the Lane County Sheriff’s Office in Eugene, Oregon. According to these records, Bryan, 44, was arrested alongside his fiancé Johnnie Faye Cartwright, 32, on Saturday afternoon in Fall Creek. The couple have been engaged since November of 2021. They are parents to three children: daughter Kennedy, 3, and twins Parker and Sequoia, 2.
Police say that Bryan and Cartwright “were driving together in the area” and had “their three small children” were with them. At some point, Bryan exited their pickup truck and started to walk down the road.
“Cartwright then attempted to run over Bryan, crashing the truck with the children inside into the ditch,” police stated. “Bryan was able to move out of the way and avoid injury.”
When police arrived at the scene, they found that both Bryan and Cartwright “were impaired.” Thankfully, despite this horrific series of events, “no one inside the pickup was injured.” A relative arrived at the scene to pick up the three young children.
Bryan And Cartwright Arrested
Bryan was arrested for violating a court order to keep away from Cartwright.
“After additional investigation, Cartwright was arrested for Attempted Assault in the 1st Degree, three counts of Recklessly Endangering and DUI,” police said in their official report. “Bryan was arrested for a probation violation on an original charge of Assault in the 4th Degree. The involved children were placed with a family member.”
Bryan has been in jail ever since, and he is set to be released on Wednesday. Court records show that he has issued no bail.
Meanwhile, Cartwright was arraigned on Monday. Court records obtained by People Magazine show that Cartwright pled not guilty to the following six charges: one count of driving under the influence, two counts of recklessly endangering another person and three counts of reckless driving.
A judge granted Cartwright a domestic violence-related no contact order, which is seemingly related to Bryan’s arrest. The court records indicate that Cartwright is also still in jail at this time.
Bryan Blames ‘Fame As A Child Actor’
Bryan is best known for starring alongside Tim Allen and Patricia Richardson on Home Improvement. He played their oldest son Brad Taylor on the series from 1991 until 1999.
Just a few weeks before his latest arrest, Bryan gave an interview in which he blamed his latest previous domestic violence arrest on the tough transition from childhood fame to adulthood. He claimed that “fame as a child actor left scars” in his life and mindset that have led to run-ins with the law.
“Being thrust into the spotlight at nine-years-old brought pressures I wasn’t equipped to handle,” Bryan lamented. “But that’s no justification for my choices as an adult.”
At the time of that interview, Bryan claimed that he was embarking on “a journey toward personal growth” in the hopes of avoiding any future legal problems. He also acknowledged that “domestic violence in any form is unacceptable.”
“The truth is, I’ve struggled with the lasting effects of early fame, addiction, and poor decision-making,” Bryan concluded. “Which have hurt people I care about and led to repeated legal issues, including DUIs and past domestic incidents.”
Tim Allen’s Comments On Bryan
Tim Allen has attempted to show some support for his former TV son in the past. Allen famously served two years in prison for drug charges before being released in 1981. From there, he was able to turn his life around and achieve Hollywood stardom.
“Zach is a great kid who has grown into a complex man,” Allen told The Hollywood Reporter back in 2023. “All you can do is step aside and let somebody go through their process.”
“At a certain point, he deviated from the guy I know to somebody who is reacting to situations that I had nothing to do with and can’t control,” he concluded. “I don’t know what happens when people get corrupted. You just don’t know.”
After six arrests in five years, it’s not looking good for Bryan and his future. In the end, it’s sad to watch someone who brought joy to millions on a beloved sitcom like Home Improvement go down this road.