A routine traffic stop turned into a celebrity car-theft recovery after Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies recovered actor Jerry O’Connell’s restored 1979 Cadillac, pulling over a speeding driver on Pacific Coast Highway.
Driven Away
On the night of Jan. 13, deputies clocked the classic Cadillac speeding along Pacific Coast Highway near Malibu, according to NBC4 Investigates. The vehicle was stopped for speeding, triggering an unexpected investigation.
The driver, described by authorities as homeless or unhoused, could not produce basic documentation, according to People, including a driver’s license, registration, proof of insurance, or the name of the registered owner.
The suspect claimed the car belonged to a family member but offered no proof or additional details, the New York Post reported, prompting deputies to grow suspicious about the vehicle’s true ownership.
After piecing together the information, deputies determined the Cadillac was registered to the O’Connell family and had been stolen from O’Connell’s Calabasas home in the west San Fernando Valley.
NBC4 Investigates reported that O’Connell and his family were out of town at the time and were completely unaware the 1979 Cadillac was missing until it was recovered.
The driver was arrested and booked at the Malibu/Lost Hills Station before being released on a promise to appear in court. The vehicle was returned to O’Connell after ownership was confirmed, according to MLive.
Such releases are common in Los Angeles County, where individuals accused of nonviolent or misdemeanor offenses are often released on their own recognizance (OR) to avoid unnecessary jail time and reduce overcrowding, according to Shouse Law.
The Cadillac’s value likely exceeds $950, which can elevate auto theft to a felony under California law, but in certain circumstances, including a lack of prior criminal history, no immediate public-safety threat, or classification as a joyriding misdemeanor offense, can still result in release on a written promise to appear.
O’Connell later took to X and Instagram to thank the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Department and poke fun at himself, admitting he had left the keys in the center console and writing, “MY BAD. This one is on me.”
The incident is not O’Connell’s first encounter with theft. People previously reported that in September 2025, his phone and wallet were stolen during a yoga class in Los Angeles.