Singer Justin Bieber Arrested
Teen pop star Justin Bieber has been charged with drink driving, drag racing and resisting arrest in Miami Beach.
The troubled Canadian star, 19, was stopped in the early hours of this morning while driving a rented Lamborghini, according to US reports.
A police spokesman said Bieber was pulled over at 4am along with a red Ferrari.
He failed a sobriety test at the scene and was taken into custody, spokesman Sgt Bobby Hernandez said.
Speaking at a police press conference, Raymond Martinez said Bieber “had been smoking marijuana and he did consume a beer”.
The 19-year-old had used some “choice words” when he was arrested but was not violent, he added.
The driver of the red Ferrari, believed to be the star’s friend, 19-year-old US singer Khalil, was also arrested on the same charges.
Witnesses told the Miami Herald that members of the singer’s entourage had parked their cars to block traffic and create a drag strip for the two drivers.
“He showed symptoms of someone under the influence of drugs or alcohol,” Sgt Hernandez added.
Bieber was being held in custody and police would not release any further details while in the stages of the initial investigation.
Bieber was taken to the Miami Beach police station to be breathalysed and processed. The spokesman said he was expected to be “booked” into the Miami-Dade County Jail later today.
Earlier in the evening, model Chantel Jefferies was driving the Lamborghini in photos that Justin had posted online.
Khalil posted a photo of Chantel and Justin in the yellow car, but she was behind the wheel. He captioned the pic “U know bizzle brought that lambo out.”
Khalil also posted a photo of him behind the wheel, writing “Miami nights ridin thru yo city in that hot wheel,” and a picture in front of a red Ferrari next to Justin in front of a yellow one.
It is the latest in a string of setbacks for the teenager.
His neighbour in Los Angeles recently accused the star of causing thousands of dollars of damage by throwing eggs at his home. Detectives investigating searched Bieber’s mansion and one person was arrested for drugs possession.
Neighbours complained to the police last year with claims that the singer drove recklessly around the area, and played loud music at parties that last into the early morning.
In July, officials at the border of the US and Canada seized marijuana and drug paraphernalia from one of the singer’s tour buses, although he was not on that bus at the time.
He recently made headlines after claiming he was ready to retire from the music business, tweeting to his “Beliebers” in December that he was “officially retiring”. The claim was denied by many in his camp.
Miami Beach Police said it would release more information soon, tweeting on its account: “#BreakingNews confirming @justinbieber has been arrested for DUI & Drag Racing more info & press release coming.”
Many have been concerned for Bieber’s welfare and mental state. In a recent interview he said: “I don’t give a f***. Not ‘I don’t give a f***’ to just be reckless and do whatever, but ‘I don’t give a f*** what they say.’ I know who I am and what I’m doing in my life and what I’ve accomplished and continue to accomplish as a performer, as a writer, as an artist, as a person, as a human being. I’m happy with the man I’m becoming.”
He has claimed that he has been mentored by Oprah Winfrey, while Eminem was the latest star to reach out offering help and advice.
The teenager has been in Florida for the past few days and has been spotted in several nightclubs, including one strip club where he is alleged to have spent thousands of dollars. He also posted pictures of him performing tricks on his skateboard and spraying his initials onto a wall at a skate park.
A spokesman for Bieber declined to comment until further details were available.