Editing Wilson Pickett (section)

==Personal life ==
Pickett was the father of four children. At the time of his death, he was engaged.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Schudel|first=Matt|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2006/01/20/midnight-hour-mustang-sally-r38/f71caa32-016e-46fb-87f2-967d8c4e3b0d/|title='Midnight Hour,' 'Mustang Sally' R& B Singer Wilson Pickett|newspaper=Washington Post|date=January 19, 2006}}</ref>

=== Legal problems and drug abuse ===
Pickett's struggle with alcoholism and cocaine addiction led to run-ins with the law.<ref name=":1" />

In 1991, Pickett was arrested for yelling threats while drunkenly driving his car over the front lawn of Donald Aronson, the mayor of [[Englewood, New Jersey]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/wilson-pickett-6111108.html|first=Spencer |last=Leigh|author-link=Spencer Leigh (radio presenter)|title=Wilson Pickett|date=January 21, 2006|website=The Independent|language=en}}</ref> He faced charges of drunk driving, refusing to take a breath test, and resisting arrest. Pickett agreed to perform a benefit concert in exchange for having the disorderly conduct and property damage charges dropped.<ref name=":4">{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=57oDAAAAMBAJ&q=wilson+pickett+drunk+driving+jet+1993&pg=PA60|title=Pickett Will Perform Benefit To Have Disorderly Conduct, Other Raps Dismissed|date=July 26, 1993|magazine=[[Jet (magazine)|Jet]]|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company}}</ref> He performed his community service obligation.

In 1992, Pickett struck 86-year-old pedestrian Pepe Ruiz with his car in Englewood.<ref name="jet">{{cite news|title=Pickett to Perform in Concert to Settle Dispute with Mayor|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xboDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA60|newspaper=Jet|date=March 15, 1993|publisher = |access-date=October 25, 2011 }}</ref> Police allegedly found six empty miniature vodka bottles and six empty beer cans in Pickett's car.<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal|date=May 11, 1992|title=Pickett Gets Summons For Alcohol Bottles In Car After Accident|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h7kDAAAAMBAJ&q=wilson+pickett+drunk+driving+jet+1992&pg=PA60|journal=Jet|pages=60}}</ref> Ruiz, who had helped organize the New York animation union, died later that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://filboidsudge.blogspot.com/2005/08/august-1-1944.html|title=Cartoon Diary: August 1, 1944|publisher=Filboidsudge.blogspot.com|date=August 1, 2005|access-date=February 6, 2012}}</ref> Pickett pleaded guilty to [[Driving under the influence|drunk driving]] charges.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=July 19, 1993|title=Pickett Pleads Guilty To Drunken Driving Charges|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DrsDAAAAMBAJ&q=wilson+pickett+drunk+driving+jet+1993&pg=PA14|journal=Jet|pages=14}}</ref><ref name=":4" /> He agreed to rehab and received a reduced sentence of one year in jail and five years probation.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/20/arts/music/20pickett.html?ei=5070&en=385960ae2b0dd420&ex=1168837200&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1168666205-xFg3SBlc/473ZzYdIJa4CA|work=The New York Times|title=Wilson Pickett, 64, Soul Singer of Great Passion, Dies|first=Jeff|last=Leeds|date=January 20, 2006}}</ref> A week after this incident, a judge ordered Pickett to move out of his home after his live-in girlfriend charged him with threatening to have her killed and throwing a vodka bottle at her.<ref name=":5" />

In 1996, Pickett was arrested for assaulting his girlfriend Elizabeth Trapp while under the influence of cocaine; she refused to press charges.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=April 29, 1996|title=New Jersey Police Look Into Charges Famed Singer Wilson Pickett Beat His Girlfriend|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WDkDAAAAMBAJ&q=wilson+pickett+&pg=PA52|journal=Jet|volume=89|issue=24|pages=53}}</ref> Pickett was charged with cocaine possession.<ref name=":3" />