David Cassidy was arrested for a felony DWI today in Upstate New York. According to published reports David Cassidy greeted the arresting officer with the phrase “What’s new, pussycat,” an old Tom Jones song. Maybe a little before the arresting officer’s time because that seems to be what made him pull the former teen idol out of the car. It could have been worse. David Cassidy could have greeted him with his Partridge Family signature tune, “I think I love you.”

David Cassidy, who is scheduled to play Eisenhower Park at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre in East Meadow N.Y. on Sept. 7, was arrested just after midnight for failure to dim his headlights, according to the Schodack Police Department, and driving while intoxicated, in David Cassidy’s case, a felony. The former Keith Partridge had a prior arrest for DUI and driving with an open container. David Cassidy, who lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, entered a no contest plea as a first-time offender in February 2011. His driver’s license was suspended for six months and he was given one year’s probation. Cassidy also had to attend a DUI school, pay a fine of $500 and serve 50 hours of community service. There is a video of David Cassidy failing his 2010 sobriety tests floating around on the internet.

Cassidy was arrested by Officer Tom Jones and Rensselaer County District Attorney Richard McNally said when Jones introduced himself, Cassidy said, "What's new, pussycat?" Which is a song by the sixties singer Tom Jones.

According to the police report, Cassidy failed to dim his car's headlights at a police checkpoint and was given breath and field sobriety tests. The report says Cassidy blew a .10 in the Breathalyzer device. The legal blood alcohol limit is .08. David Cassidy, who is 63, was arraigned and remanded to Rensselaer County Jail in lieu of bail. David Cassidy later made $2,500 bail and was released. He was ordered to appear in court on September 6. TV reporter Jessica Layton tweeted word of his arrest early this morning. A representative for David Cassidy could not be reached for comment.

David Cassidy was the world's highest paid solo-live performer by age 21. David Cassidy’s fan club was the most popular in the world, beating the Beatles, who he met, individually. Cassidy played Keith Partridge in the iconic seventies sitcom "The Partridge Family," where he played the eldest of five children of a widowed mother, who was played by Shirley Jones, Cassidy's real-life stepmother, who headed a band with his family. After four seasons, the show was cancelled and Cassidy launched his own pop music career becoming one of pop music's most celebrated teen idols. David Cassidy’s hits include "I Think I Love You," “How Can I Be Sure,” "Cherish," and "Lyin' to Myself."

Cassidy recently played an aging former teen heartthrob in the 2009 ABC Family sitcom "Ruby & the Rockits." The show was canceled after one season. He also guest starred as an aging former teen heartthrob on the TV sitcom “Malcolm in the Middle.”

David Cassidy was in town because he is a regular at Saratoga Race Course and spends some of the summer in the area. Police said his year-round address is in Fort Lauderdale.

Cassidy is scheduled to return to court on Sept. 4.

by Tony Sokol