Canadian pop star Justin Bieber was arrested in Miami
Beach early today and charged with driving under the
influence and resisting arrest without violence after police
said he had been stopped while "drag racing" down a street
before dawn.
The singer, 19, was released hours after a judge set bail at
$2,500 early Thursday afternoon. Reuters reported
that Bieber emerged from the jail escorted by correctional
officers and his personal entourage, before climbing on the
roof of an SUV to wave to fans.
Bieber had been held at the Miami Beach police station and
then Miami-Dade county jail since his arrest. The court
appearance was conducted by video soon after 1 p.m. ET.
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Bieber was nabbed and taken into custody soon after 4 a.m.
ET Thursday, police said.
Bieber, who was born in
London, Ont., raised in
nearby Stratford, but now lives
in the Los Angeles area, has
had several incidents with law
enforcement officials in the
past month. In Miami, he was
accused of racing a rented,
yellow Lamborghini alongside
a red Ferrari driven by a friend
identified as rhythm and blues
singer Khalil.
Khalil, whose full name
is Khalil Amir Sharieff, was
also arrested and charged with
driving under the influence. His
bond was set at $1,000.
At a morning news conference,
Miami Beach police Chief
Raymond Martinez said Bieber
was "a little belligerent,
questioning, using some
choice words, why he had been stopped."
Justin Bieber arrestedARRESTED For DUI and Drag Racing
Martinez said Bieber was tested, and acknowledged that he
been smoking marijuana and drinking beer, and had taken a
prescription medicine. The chief said he didn't know the
nature of the prescription drug. He also said Bieber was
using an invalid Georgia driver's licence.
Bieber's blood-alcohol levels weren't released.
Co-operative at station
The racing consisted of going from a standing start on Pine
Tree Drive — a residential area where the speed limit is 50
km/h — to approximately 100 km/h, Martinez said.
"Once he was here at the station, he was very co-
operative," Martinez said. "We did not have any issues with
him."
The arresting officer's statement, released at about 11 a.m.,
said Bieber was directed to get out of the Lamborghini once
the officer saw his bloodshot eyes and smelled alcohol.
Bieber said to him: "Why the f--k are you doing this?"
Once Bieber got out of the car, the officer asked him to put
his hands on the vehicle and keep his hands out of his
pockets.
"Fearing that the driver might have a weapon or contraband,
I asked the driver to place his hands on his vehicle in order
to facilitate a cursory pat down for weapons," the statement
says.
Bieber responded: "What the f--k did I do, why did you stop
me?"
The pop star was asked again to put his hands on the car.
Bieber complied, but soon removed them and turned to face
the officer.
Bieber is quoted as then saying: "I ain't got no f---ing
weapons. Why do you have to search me? What the f--k is
this about?"
After Bieber had three times failed to keep his hands on the
car, the officer took his right hand and put him under arrest.
Bieber tried to pull away, but was then taken into custody
"with no further incident," the statement says.
The officer gave Bieber a standardized field sobriety test on
a flat, well-lit surface. Bieber "did not perform to
standards," the officer's statement says.
Bieber had been in the Miami area for a few days and
had reportedly been visiting a club on Lincoln Road on
Wednesday night.
Earlier reports indicated the musician’s entourage had used
their cars to block traffic on Pine Tree Drive at 26th Street,
creating a drag strip for Bieber.
Bad January
Bieber has had an active month with U.S. law enforcement
officials.
On Jan. 4, detectives from the Los Angeles Sheriff's
Department found drugs and arrested an associate of the
singer during a search of Bieber's home. The officers were
looking for evidence of an earlier egg-tossing vandalism
incident.
Police noted that Bieber, his security and entourage co-
operated fully with the search, but did not make an official
statement.
The singer was neither arrested nor exonerated in the felony
vandalism incident, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department
said.
Bieber lives in a gated community in Calabasas, a celebrity
enclave northwest of downtown L.A.
Last October, prosecutors declined to charge Bieber after a
neighbour complained he drove recklessly through the area.
In November 2012, prosecutors also declined to charge
Bieber when the singer was accused of punching and hitting
a man after leaving a Calabasas movie theatre.
On mobile device? See court documents here , here , and
here .
Warning: Documents contain coarse language
Corrections and Clarifications
An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported that
Justin Bieber was charged with drag racing. He has
been charged with driving under the influence, driving
with an expired licence and resisting arrest. Jan 23,
2014 3:27 PM ET
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