Apocalypto Star Rudy Youngblood Released from Greek Jail After Confrontation

Actor Rudy Youngblood, known for his role in Mel Gibson's Apocalypto, has been released from a Greek jail after a week-long detainment. The 42-year-old was arrested in Athens on December 27th following an alleged confrontation with police.

According to Greek publication To Vima, Youngblood was stopped by police outside an Athens precinct in the early hours of the morning. Authorities allege he was intoxicated and threatened officers with a pocketknife. Youngblood disputes this account, claiming the plainclothes officers did not identify themselves and that a language barrier contributed to the misunderstanding. He also states he was unaware of his rights during the arrest.

Following the incident, Youngblood was charged with resisting arrest, making threats, and carrying a weapon. He received a 10-month suspended sentence. However, his release was delayed due to an expired visa, leading to a deportation order. Youngblood successfully appealed the deportation order and was granted permission to leave Greece voluntarily. He was pictured smiling upon his release on Friday.

Youngblood's appeal, as reported by Greek City Times , detailed his version of events. He stated he did not recognize the plainclothes officers as law enforcement and reacted defensively. He denies resisting or assaulting the police, maintaining he only produced the pocketknife after being handcuffed. His visa had expired in late November, exceeding the permitted 90-day stay. Youngblood claims he remained in Greece due to medical advice against traveling. He had been in the country since late August for a film shoot.

This isn't Youngblood's first encounter with law enforcement. In 2017, he was arrested for disorderly intoxication at a Miami casino after allegedly being verbally abusive to other poker players. Those charges were later dropped.

Youngblood played the lead role of Jaguar Paw in the 2006 hit film Apocalypto. His recent work includes the 2023 horror film The Haunting of Hell Hole Mine and other films such as Dandelion Season (2021) and Beatdown (2010).