Tom Cruise's Naked Brush With the Law  9/2/05

Tom Cruise had to use his imagination to escape a police rap when he was a kid growing up in Kentucky - after cops caught him streaking down the main street.

The bold War of the Worlds star ran naked through Louisville after being dared to do so by pals, and almost ended up in cells after police chased and caught him.

A childhood friend of the actor's, then just Tommy Mapother, recalls, "Tom persuaded them that he had accidentally locked himself out of his home after taking a bath.

"They didn't believe him, but they were impressed with his story and let him off with a