Johnny Depp's Bodyguards Sue, Alleging Wild Working Conditions

LOS ANGELES, CA — Two of Johnny Depp's former bodyguards sued the film star Tuesday, airing a bevy of embarrassing allegations at the "Pirates of the Caribbean" star.

Eugene Arreola and Miguel Sanchez, Depp's former bodyguards claim they are owed unpaid wages and overtime and were exposed to dangerous conditions such as illegal drug use and reckless handling of firearms.

A representative for the 54-year-old "Pirates of the Caribbean" star could not be immediately reached for comment.

Among their chief complaints, the bodyguards contend they were required to drive Depp and his family around with open alcohol containers, illicit drugs and minors in the vehicle. They claim they had to warn the actor when he appeared to have drug residue on his face, and they had to deal with another member of the security staff, who accidentally shot himself while being careless with a gun. The pair also allege they were denied lunch breaks or overtime pay.

Arreolo, a retired Los Angeles police detective and Sanchez, a private security services veteran, allege they worked with Depp in 2016 during his highly publicized and contentious divorce from actress Amber Heard. Things changed dramatically for the worse at Depp's Hollywood Hills compound where the men protected Depp's mother and sister "during their most difficult times," according to the complaint.

The actor made "sudden and drastic changes to his staff and management staff, "causing a significant financial crunch for everyone surrounding Depp, except for Depp himself," complaint alleges.

In August of that year, Depp's former wife, actress Amber Heard, received a $7 million settlement in their divorce case, several months after obtaining a temporary restraining order on claims that he abused her throughout their relationship.

Both defenants say they were often used as drivers to take Depp and his family wherever they beckoned. Some of the vehicles "contained illegal substances, open containers and minors," the suit alleges.

Arreola was never paid overtime or given meal and rest breaks, even though he worked 12-hour shifts from May 2016 until January 2018, the suit alleges. Sanchez also alleges he was not paid overtime from May 2016 to April 2018 despite also working 12-hour days.

Both plaintiffs often were forced "to protect Depp from himself," including once having to alert the actor to "illegal substances visible on his face and person" during an outing at a nightclub, the suit states.

The pair also claim they were exposed to unsafe conditions, including when their supervisor, Leonard Damian, shot himself in a leg while playing with a small gun in a control room on Depp's property.

"Although stunned to find himself in such an unsafe and life- threatening situation at work, Sanchez had no choice but to rush Damian to the hospital ...," according to the suit.

Arreola says his work hours were reduced when he complained about not being paid overtime or given rest breaks. When Sanchez took time off to take his ailing mother to a doctor's appointment, Damian took him off the schedule for several days, according to the lawsuit.

Both men were forced to quit because of the "dangerous and toxic work environment," even though they "enjoyed many of the people they worked with and had no ill will toward Johnny Depp," the suit states.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin; Photo: Johnny Depp attends the 'Murder On The Orient Express' World Premiere at Royal Albert Hall on November 2, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images)