Arrest Record Shows Amanda Peterson’s Struggle with Drugs, Alcohol

Though an autopsy report has yet to be issued for actress Amanda Peterson, who died on July 3 from undisclosed causes, a number of news outlets have revealed that the former star had struggled with drugs in her youth. Peterson later amassed a lengthy arrest record in her post-fame years that included charges for drug possession, assault, and public intoxication.

A report from the Weld County Sheriff’s Office in Peterson’s hometown of Greeley, Colo., where she had returned to live after leaving the film industry in the mid-90s, stated that the 43-year-old had been arrested at least six times between 2000 and 2012, and spent three months in jail after an arrest in 2005.

The sheriff’s office records state that in 2010, Peterson was arrested for third-degree assault after a physical altercation with another woman in Fort Collins, Colorado. At the time of the incident, the arresting officer reported that Peterson appeared intoxicated and “was slurring her speech.”

A statement from her then-boyfriend indicated that the actress had been drinking at a bar prior to the incident, and her behavior may have been a result of a bad interaction with medication she was taking for bipolar disorder and attention-deficit disorder. Peterson’s troubles with the law continued two years later, when she was arrested for driving under the influence and possession of narcotic equipment.

In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Peterson’s mother, Sylvia Peterson, noted that her daughter appeared to be in good spirits prior to her death, and was confident that her demise was not “a drug thing.”

She added that Peterson did suffer from depression and sleep apnea, but was not aware of any other health issues that might have contributed to her passing. Peterson’s family held a memorial service for her on July 11, and shared a montage of photos and videos from the actress’s life via Facebook.