Quaid, wife leave detention facility

VANCOUVER, B.C. – Actor Randy Quaid and his wife Evi have been released from a Canadian detention facility after she was declared a Canadian citizen, Canadian border officials said Wednesday.

The Quaids were arrested Oct. 21 in a shopping area of a posh Vancouver, B.C., neighborhood and were jailed on outstanding U.S. warrants related to vandalism charges. The Quaids are wanted in Santa Barbara, Calif., where they missed a court hearing Monday on felony vandalism charges.

The Canada Border Services Agency confirmed in a statement that Evi Quaid is a citizen of Canada.

The pair had appeared at an immigration hearing in which they requested refugee status based on their belief that they were being persecuted by “Hollywood star whackers,” as they put it, and that their lives were in danger.

Catherine Sas, the Quaid’s new lawyer, said Evi Quaid can live and work in Canada and border officials have withdrawn their proceedings.

As for Randy Quaid, the border services agency would only say that he is no longer in detention and his case will be proceeding through immigration channels.

The couple had been scheduled to appear at a refugee board hearing in Vancouver today. They were told last week they could be released from detention if they posted a $10,000 bond each, but the pair remained in custody.

Refugee claimants can be detained if officials suspect they won’t appear for their hearings.

The Quaids have frequently missed court appearances in the past for a now-resolved U.S. case involving charges they defrauded an innkeeper.

The Quaids are due to appear in a Santa Barbara court next week on felony vandalism charges and their U.S. lawyer has said he expects them to show up.

Quaid and his wife were charged after more than $5,000 in damage was found in a guest house of a Montecito, Calif., home they had previously owned.