PASADENA, Calif. – “Big Brother 2” cast member Michael “Mike Boogie” Carri was arrested five years ago when he tried to break into a movie studio and take secret pictures, police and CBS executives disclosed yesterday.
Cops busted Carri, now 31, on Oct. 19, 1996, when Warner Bros. security officers caught him and two others trying to sneak into the movie set of “Batman & Robin,” starring George Clooney, and take pictures for tabloid TV.
Carri, now known as Michael Malin on “BB2,” used forged studio ID cards and driver’s licenses to nearly pull off the daring scheme, police said. Cops also found a miniature 35mm camera in Carri’s sock and a getaway car with no license plates.
“I remember they seemed to have a pretty reasonable, well-thought-out plan. They weren’t stalkers or threats to society,” Burbank police Sgt. and arresting officer John Dilibert told The Post. “As an investigator, you almost have a little respect for the guy who tunnels his way into the bank vault, you know?”
News of Carri’s arrest, first reported yesterday on the crime web site http://www.thesmokinggun.com, came two weeks after “Big Brother 2” dismissed cast member Justin Sebik for pulling a knife on a female housemate.
CBS officials have said their background check of the Bayonne, N.J. bartender failed to show any violent behavior despite arrests for robbery and assault. A judge sentenced Carri, who spent one night in jail, to probation and community service for convictions on carrying counterfeit government-issued identification, trespassing and injury to property, and malicious mischief.
“We were aware of this incident,” said CBS executive vice president Gil Schwartz. “We and the show producers didn’t think this misdemeanor, non-violent arrest was enough to disqualify him, or make it impossible for him to join the house.”