Actor Ryan O'Neal and son arrested on drug charge

Actor Ryan O'Neal (L) and his son Redmond O'Neal are shown in a combination photograph of their booking mug shots released by the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department to Reuters September 17, 2008, following their arrest Wednesday for possession of a controlled substance. O'Neal and his son were each being held in jail in lieu of $10,000 bail, a sheriff's spokesperson said.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actor Ryan O'Neal and his son, Redmond, were arrested and charged with possessing methamphetamine on Wednesday following a search of their home, officials said.

They were taken into custody at their home in Malibu after a predawn check by officers, said Sgt. Diane Hecht, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The sweep of the home stemmed from a probation case involving Redmond O'Neal, 23, said Kerri Webb, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Probation Department.

Redmond O'Neal pleaded guilty in June to driving under the influence and possession of heroin and methamphetamine, said Jane Robison, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office. He avoided time in prison in exchange for starting a drug treatment program and was sentenced to three years' probation.

Ryan O'Neal and his son were booked on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance, methamphetamine, and released on $10,000 bail each, authorities said.

O'Neal, 67, has starred in the television show "Bones" on the Fox television network. He first came to fame on the soap opera "Peyton Place" in the 1960s, and earned an Oscar nomination in 1971 for his role in the movie "Love Story."

O'Neal's agent, David Shapira, was not immediately available to comment.

The actor's daughter, Tatum O'Neal, 44, a former child star, pleaded guilty in July to disorderly conduct stemming from a drug arrest in June.

Redmond O'Neal's mother is actress Farrah Fawcett, 61.

(Editing by Bob Tourtellotte and Patricia Zengerle)