Pia Zadora Arrested After Trying To Choke Son Over Bedtime, Charged With Domestic Violence

Pia Zadora was arrested on domestic battery charges after she strangled her 16-year-old son. Zadora got into an argument with Jordan, her son, after he wouldn't go to bed on time. A SWAT team was called to the house in the incident, which ended in a six-hour stakeout.

Zadora, 61, an actress whose career peaked in the 1980s, was arrested shortly before noon Sunday at her Las Vegas home.

Jordan allegedly told his mom that he wanted to stay outside and talk to his stepbrother, so Zadora sprayed them with a hose, forcing them inside.

Jordan told police that his stepbrother tried to calm Pia down, but she attacked him. She allegedly punched him and scratched him in the face.

After an hour or two of fighting, he said, Jordan tried calling 911. Zadora tried to snatch the phone out of his hands, choking him while doing so.

When he got through, he told the dispatcher that "his mother was going crazy and her hands were around his neck."

He said all three of his family members prevented him from going to answer the door when police arrived. Pia, her husband, Jordan, and his stepbrother were all home. This led to an hours-long stakeout of the house.

Eventually, Pia and Jordan came out to talk to the cops. She admitted that she may have injured or scratched Jordan and her stepson while they fought, but insisted it was an accident. She was arrested on suspicion of domestic battery and coercion.

Zadora became famous during the 1982 Golden Globes in a pay-to-play scandal. Her then-husband lavishly entertained many voting members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association at his Las Vegas casino. They named her rising star of the year; CBS dropped the Golden Globes in the ensuing scandal.

Zadora was a Broadway child actress and has been honored by the Academy Awards spoof the Razzies several times. She became a singer of popular standards after her film career bombed.

Her current husband is a Las Vegas police detective. The two met when Zadora contacted police to report a stalking incident.

Zadora was released from prison in the battery case after posting a $4,000 bail.