Paul Michael Glaser, who played cop David Starsky on the 1970s show "Starsky & Hutch," is finding himself on the other side of the law in real life --- he pleaded not guilty to drug charges in Kentucky.

Glaser, 69, was in a Bowling Green courtroom Thursday to contest marijuana possession charges stemming from a May 10 arrest.

The "Starsky & Hutch" actor pleaded not guilty, contending the drugs were medical marijuana prescribed to him in California, the Bowling Green Daily News reported. Glaser is a resident of Stockton, Calif.

Glaser was arrested May 10 on marijuana possession charges by the Bowling Green Police Department following a complaint "of a person named 'Paul Glaser' smoking marijuana near the elevators" of the Hilton Garden Inn, the Daily News reported, citing a Bowling Green Police Department citation.

Glaser was in Bowling Green that day to promote "Chyrstallia and the Source of Light," a young adult fantasy novel he wrote, at the Moss Middle School and Bowling Green Junior High School, the paper reported. The "Starsky & Hutch" actor also made an appearance at the Warren County Public Library on May 10.

The paper said Glaser told the students that his fantasy novel was based on his life experiences. The actor's wife and daughter both died of AIDS.

Glaser portrayed David Starsky, a Brooklyn native who becomes a police officer in Southern California, in "Starsky & Hutch." The character was best known for his Gran Torino, which fans dubbed "The Striped Tomato" after colleague Kenneth "Hutch" Hutchinson gave the car that name in an episode of the 1970s television series.

Glaser reprised the role in a brief appearance in the 2004 film version of "Starsky & Hutch" that starred Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson.

The 69-year-old actor's latest film appearance was in the short "A Clutch Powers 4D Adventure," where he played Kjeld Playwell, according to his IMDB page.

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