'West Wing' writer arrested

Lolita Harper

AIRPORT DISTRICT -- Aaron Sorkin, creator of the NBC-TV drama "The

West Wing," was arrested Sunday on suspicion of possessing illicit

mushrooms, police said.

Sorkin, a 39-year-old Los Angeles resident, was stopped at an airport

checkpoint at 3:15 p.m. for a routine weapons search when members of the

airport staff found a suspicious plastic bag in his carry-on luggage,

said Sgt. Tom Davenport, airport police spokesman.

Airport police were called, and allegedly identified the substance as

illicit mushrooms, Davenport said. Sorkin was arrested and booked at

Burbank City Jail. He posted $10,000 bail three hours later, Davenport

said.

Sorkin is scheduled to be arraigned April 27, Burbank Police Lt. Roger

Mason said.