Policeman from Village People arrested by real police on gun, drug charges

DALY CITY, Calif. (AP) - Victor Edward Willis, the original policeman in the 1970s music group the Village People, was arrested by real police who allegedly found a gun and drugs in his convertible.

Willis, who co-wrote disco hits such as Macho Man and In the Navy before leaving the Village People in the late 1970s, was taken into custody Monday after an officer stopped his Chevrolet Corvette.

Police said Willis didn't have a valid licence or identification and at first lied about his name and residence. Inside the car, the officer found a .45-calibre handgun as well as rock cocaine and drug paraphernalia, police said.

Traces of cocaine and other paraphernalia were also found his home at a mobile home park in Daly City, just south of San Francisco, police said. Willis also had an outstanding felony warrant for possession of narcotics.

Police arrested him on suspicion of six felony counts, including possession of a firearm, driving on a suspended licence and transportation of cocaine. He posted $100,000 US bail Tuesday and was to be arraigned Aug. 16.--