Say hello to Gil "The Crab," star of a popular Honda commercial, who in a strange twist of life imitating art, was arrested by Manhattan Beach police on Sunday, August 27, and charged with alleged wrongful pinching. The 26-year-old commercial actor, best known for his catchphrase "I Pinch," was apprehended at 7:30 p.m., after a male beachgoer approached a lifeguard for treatment of a reddened toe.

Gil, newly released from his Honda Element contract, had been trying to make a comeback with Honda. The popular actor launched a petition-driven Web site, savethecrab.com as a last-ditch effort to collect signatures and mobilize fan support for his commercial reinstatement. Presumably against the wishes of his legal counsel, Gil has outlined details of the incident on his Myspace Blog, where he doggedly maintains his innocence.

Confidential sources have also informed us that police may file additional charges against the performer, including possession of crab grass.

See the internal Honda memo, which outlines details of his dismissal.

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