Richard Quest, the well known CNN anchor, has been put under arrest for drug possession.

The British reporter was detained by the NYPD in Central Park on Friday for carrying drugs in his pocket – a small amount of methamphetamine.

Reports show that police initially arrested him at about 3:42 a.m. at W. 64th St. and West Drive because he was in the park after 1 a.m. closing, a fact confirmed by NY police. After arresting him, police officers searched the journalist (standard procedure) and found a plastic bag containing methamphetamine in his jacket pocket.

The 46-year-old anchor was detained on counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance and loitering in a city park after curfew, both misdemeanors.

“I’ve got some meth in my pocket,” said Quest when police stopped and searched him in the Central Park.

The court complaint which mentioned what Quest said before being arrested also reveals that the methamphetamine was contained in a zip-lock plastic bag.

However, Quest will avoid jail time if he successfully completes a six-month drug treatment program, said Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Anthony Ferrara according to The New York Daily News.

Quest’s lawyer, Alan Abramson said that his client was on his way to his hotel and was accompanied by friends, but he didn’t realize that the park had a curfew. Central Park is closed from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m.

“The matter is scheduled to be dismissed,” Abramson added.

Quest will have to report back in court in October with evidence that he made enough progress in his therapy. He will not be restricted to travel in any way, the judge said.

Richard Austin Quest is a Liverpool-native news reporter based in London on the Cable News Network edition CNN International, a part of the Time Warner Inc media empire.

The journalist has his own program called “Quest” and is also well known for his work on “CNN Business Traveller”.