Dennis Farina of Law & Order Fame Arrested at LAX

, who has had starring roles on Miami Vice and Law & Order, was arrested on May 11th, 2008 for trying to get through LAX security with a loaded .22 caliber pistol. Farina was taken to LAPD's Pacific Division. He was booked on suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon, and bail was set for $25,000.00.

The actor is a former policeman who has built a 30 year Hollywood career playing detectives on numerous television dramas. He has also had roles in Saving Private Ryan and a number of wiseguy roles in Midnight Run and Get Shorty.

Farina told the arresting officers that he was headed to his home in Chicago and claims he simply forgot the weapon was still in his briefcase and had never intended to take it on a plane. After police found out the weapon was unregistered, the charges were upgraded to a felony and bail was increased to 35,000.00.

Farina had a two year run on Law & Order before leaving that show in 2006. The actor has snagged himself another gig and will be the new host of Unsolved Mysteries when it returns to television on Spike TV in October of 2008. Farina is filling the void left by the late actor Robert Stack, who hosted the original series for 15 years.