Family Matters Star Darius McCrary Arrested by Border Patrol

Family Matters star Darius McCrary has been apprehended by border patrol.

Records obtained by Us Weekly reveal that McCrary, age 49, was taken into custody by U.S. border patrol on Sunday, October 5. He was arrested based on a “fugitive warrant.”

The California penal code allows officers to arrest individuals without a warrant if they are suspected fugitives from another state.

Currently, McCrary is being held in San Diego and is “not eligible for release” or bail, according to the records.

According to a representative for McCrary, who spoke with TMZ, the actor was taken into custody over a warrant from Michigan due to a missed court appointment linked to unpaid child support.

In a statement to Us Weekly, McCrary’s spokesperson explained that the actor was apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border while he was involved in a philanthropic project aimed at building homes for the homeless in Tijuana.

“Darius was performing a good deed when he learned about the felony warrant related to a missed court appearance,” the statement explained. “The court date was for an ongoing child support case; Oakland County sent the notice to his PO Box with just three days’ notice. Unfortunately, Darius had Covid and didn’t check his PO Box until it was too late. He subsequently contacted the judge with a note from his doctor confirming the Covid diagnosis.”

The statement from McCrary’s rep included details that his 18-year-old son is the beneficiary of the actor’s trust, which provides monthly funding.

This isn’t the first legal trouble for the former child star. In 2015, McCrary faced arrest in Michigan for non-payment of child support. As reported by The Daily News, a judge ordered his arrest during a court session, after which McCrary paid a fine of $5,500 and was released.

Eight years later, he faced another arrest due to a continued failure to pay child support. In November 2023, TMZ noted that McCrary had an outstanding child support bill of $52,788.04 dating back to March 2019, to which he pleaded not guilty during his arraignment. His bond was set at $13,197, along with a requirement for GPS monitoring.

McCrary has been married three times: to Juliette M. Vann from 2005 to 2006, Karrine Steffans from 2009 to 2011, and Tammy Brawner from 2014 to 2017. He has three children whose identities remain private, and his legal issues are linked to Brawner, according to various reports.

In 2024, McCrary discussed his child support struggles during a podcast appearance on “No Jumper.”

“It caused great distress. My children, man. It’s tough for a father to navigate this system in the U.S.—especially as a Black man, facing even more challenges,” he stated, revealing that his legal issues have significantly impacted his mental health.

“I’ve never truly battled depression as life has been good,” he reflected. “But people should understand that life comes with both highs and lows.”

Darius McCrary is widely recognized for his portrayal of Eddie Winslow, the eldest child of Carl and Harriette, on Family Matters. The beloved sitcom aired for nine seasons from 1989 until 1998.

After his stint on Family Matters, McCrary continued his acting career with roles in various productions such as the 2003 series Kingpin, the 2005 show Committed, and others. He appeared on The Young and the Restless as Malcolm Winters from 2009 to 2011, and he lent his voice to the character Jazz in the Transformers movie.

His most recent work includes being part of the series Monogamy from 2018 to 2021 and a guest appearance on American Soul.