Justin Timberlake Arrested in New York on DUI Charge
Singer Justin Timberlake was arrested in New York for driving while intoxicated, local officials informed the BBC. The pop star was detained and formally charged on Tuesday morning, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office.
Timberlake was in Sag Harbor, a wealthy village in the Hamptons, a popular summer destination for celebrities on Long Island. He was released without bail after being formally charged, the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office reported.
The BBC has reached out to Timberlake's lawyer for comment. The arrest occurred after midnight (05:37 BST) when police pulled Timberlake over in his grey BMW for running a stop sign and failing to stay on the right side of the road, as per the charging document.
Officers noted that Timberlake's eyes were "bloodshot and glassy," and a "strong odor of an alcoholic beverage was emanating from his breath," the document stated. His speech was slow, and he performed poorly on the officers' sobriety tests, officials said. He also refused a breathalyzer test, according to records.
I had one martini, and I followed my friends home," Timberlake allegedly told the officer, according to the BBC's US partner CBS News. He is scheduled to appear virtually in Sag Harbor court on 26 July.
His lawyer, Edward Burke Jr., told BBC US news partner CBS on Tuesday evening that he "will vigorously defend his client and is currently engaged in the discovery process with the District Attorney’s Office."
Timberlake, 43, was set to embark on a global tour for his sixth album, *Everything I Thought It Was*. A former member of the popular boy band NSYNC, Timberlake is also an actor, songwriter, and one of the world's best-selling music artists. He has spoken openly in the past about seeking help for excessive drinking.
In New York, penalties for driving while intoxicated include up to a year in jail, a $1,000 (£786) fine, and the suspension of a driver’s license for at least six months.
Timberlake was scheduled to perform two shows in Chicago this weekend, followed by a show at New York’s Madison Square Garden next Tuesday. The 10-time Grammy winner is also known for his roles in the films *The Social Network* and *Friends with Benefits*. Timberlake is married to actor Jessica Biel, with whom he shares two children.
Post a Comment