Richard Quest, 46, an openly-gay reporter and business travel specialist for CNN, was arrested at 3:40 a.m. Friday morning after a cop spotted him and another man inside the park near 64th Street.

A source says Quest was initially busted for loitering, but as he was being escorted out of the park, he told the arresting officer “I have meth in my pocket.” And he wonders why he works for CNN and not the CIA.

Upon further inspection, law-enforcement sources found a small bag of methamphetamine in his left jacket pocket, a rope around his neck that was tied to his genitals, and a sex toy in his boot. The criminal complaint against Quest said the park was closed at the time - something Quest should have known because of all the signs saying “Park Closed 1 a.m. to 6 a.m.”

He was charged with loitering and criminal possession of a controlled substance. His unusual robe configuration didn’t lead to a lewdness charge because he wasn’t exposing himself, police sources said.

At a hearing in Manhattan Criminal Court, Quest agreed to undergo six months of drug counseling in return for an “adjournment in contemplation of dismissal,” which means the misdemeanor charges against him will be dropped and the case sealed if he stays out of trouble and completes his drug program. He was released with no bail after spending most of the day behind bars and loving it.

Quest, best known for his antics on the cable news network, declined comment, as did a CNN spokeswoman.

Source: New York Times