Mark Balelo Dead, 'Storage Wars' Star Commits Suicide from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning After Drug Arrest, Charges [PHOTOS]

Reports confirm that Mark Balelo, star of the hit A&E series "Storage Wars," was found dead in his car on Monday morning (Feb. 11) of an apparent carbon monoxide poisoning suicide. Just on Saturday, 40-year-old Balelo had been arrested on drug charges. According to TMZ, after Balelo was released from jail, he called his fiancée for comfort and support because he was distraught and afraid that he might hurt himself. The couple met on Sunday and everything seemed to be alright - on Monday morning, Balelo's co-worker found him dead in his car parked in the garage of his auction house in Simi Valley, CA.

Sources confirm to TMZ that Balelo had been arrested for a drug-related offense on Saturday, Feb. 9 (although no other details are yet available). This was not Balelo's first run-in with the law - back in December, Radar Online reported that Balelo previously spent 45 days in jail after violating a probation order from an earlier felony drug conviction in 2009. In that case, Balelo was charged with the sale and transportation of a controlled substance. He later violated his terms of probation by transporting a gun that he found in a storage locker in June 2011. After serving just 45 days in jail of his 132-day sentence, Balelo became a more prominent figure on "Storage Wars."

Balelo, nicknamed "Rico Suave" on the show, was known for his larger-than-life personality, flashy clothes, and extravagantly high-bids. He owned his personal auction house deemed Balelo, Inc., which purchased the contents of storage lockers and liquidated their assets.

That is where his body was found early Monday morning. TMZ claims that following his release from jail, Balelo contacted his fiancée for support and they met at his California office on Sunday. The couple talked for a few hours, Balelo took a four hour nap, and when he woke up he "seemed better." Balelo's fiancée left later Sunday evening.

Balelo's lifeless body was found perched in his running car inside an enclosed garage at the office building the next morning. Carbon monoxide poisoning is expected, but a full autopsy will be completed later on Tuesday (Feb. 12).

Balelo only appeared on a handful of "Storage Wars" episodes, but won over viewers with his outgoing and rather ruthless personality.

Thoughts and condolences go out to Balelo's family, friends, and A&E companions during this time of loss.