Director Roman Polanski Arrested In Switzerland

Roman Polanski, celebrated director of "The Pianist" and "Chinatown," has been arrested in Switzerland on criminal charges in the U.S.

Polanski fled the U.S. in 1978 after he plead guilty to the charge of unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl.

Since leaving the country, Polanski has been living in France and continued directing award-winning films including "The Pianist," "The Ninth Gate," and "Tess."

Polanski settled with the victim Samantha for an undisclosed amount, and she has since asked that the case be dismissed, stating, "Every time this case is brought to the attention of the Court, great focus is made of me…That attention is not pleasant to experience and is not worth maintaining over some irrelevant legal nicety, the continuation of the case."

Polanski was in Switzerland for the Zurich Film Festival where he was receiving an honorary award and being recognized for his life's work.

His most recent film "The Ghost," which he wrote and directed, is scheduled for theatrical release in 2010.