Puddle of Mudd's first headlining tour will kick off as planned tonight in Austin, Texas, despite singer Wes Scantlin's recent arrest for allegedly assaulting his fiancee.

Whether Scantlin will need to return to California to attend his arraignment on Friday -- between scheduled dates in Dallas and Atlanta -- will depend on the severity of the charges, still to be filed by the Ventura County District Attorney's office. A felony charge would require the singer's presence in court, but a misdemeanor count would not. California law enforcement officers booked Scantlin, twenty-nine, and thirty-one-year-old Michelle Rubin early Sunday morning in Piru, after responding to reports of a man and woman fighting along the side of State Highway 126. Scantlin, reportedly on the way to a video shoot, allegedly forced Rubin back into a Jeep Cherokee, which was then driven away by a third party. The dispute continued, observed by trailing motorists, until Sheriff's deputies and the California Highway Patrol stopped the vehicle and took the pair into custody.

According to a Ventura County Sheriff's Department spokesperson, the situation appeared to be "mutually combative," and both Scantlin and Rubin showed bruises and signs of assault. The two were held at Ventura County Jail for only half an hour before posting bond, set at $20,000 each.

Puddle of Mudd, whose debut album Come Clean has gone platinum since its release last year, will wrap up their tour April 28th in Orlando.

AUGUSTIN K. SEDGEWICK
(March 12, 2002)