Update: Justin Bieber DUI Charge Has Not Been Dropped Amid Inconsistencies, Non-Drag Race
Update: In response to media queries as to the listing of Bieber’s name in court records, Miami Beach Police have confirmed charges are listed under different dockets and no charges have been dropped against the singer. All three remain active.
@BrianCormier @BradMPerry @justinbieber set under different dockets. No charges dropped https://t.co/gfBVNn94b9 https://t.co/MaKqlYrHsY
— Miami Beach Police (@MiamiBeachPD) January 27, 2014
Original Article:
Justin Bieber’s DUI and driving without a valid license charges after his arrest for allegedly drag racing in Miami beach last week, have reportedly been dropped.
According to a new report the 19-year-old will now face just one misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest without violence, based on present records at Miami-Dade County Court Clerks website and sources who spoke to the UK’s Mirror 3am.
The outlet noticed online Miami state records now only show one charge – as per resisting – listed against Bieber’s name.
The “Baby” superstar was charged with driving under the influence, driving with an expired licence, and resisting arrest without violence on Thursday, January 23, after Miami Beach police pulled then arrested Bieber and his friend, R&B singer Khalil Amir Sharieff – driving a yellow Lamborghini and a red Ferrari respectively — on a residential street just after 4 am based on their belief the exotic cars were “preparing” to drag race.
The reported U-Turn comes amid a [filed] DUI case hemorrhaging inconsistencies with the police report, and the reveal of a surveillance video of the so-called drag-race obtained by CBS4 in Miami.
Police said Bieber failed a field sobriety test and admitted taking prescription medication, smoking marijuana, and consuming one beer earlier on Thursday.
After the police report was released The Miami Herald and TMZ reported a source close to the investigation said Bieber’s blood-alcohol level in two Breathalyzer tests taken at Miami Beach Police station was estimated at 0.014 and 0.011. Both values are below the general 0.08 legal limit and Florida’s 0.02 limit for under 21?s.
Although Bieber’s age means it’s illegal for him to drink alcohol in the US, he was not legally drunk.
Yet in the police report Officer Medina noted, “I immediately smelled an odor of alcohol em[a]nating [sic] from the driver’s breath,” while leaning into the Lamborghini to address the teen star.
Another officer at the Miami Beach Police station Justin was first taken to after his arrest, wrote he smelled “… the odor of an alc. bev. on his breath.”
Strong words for less than one beer, which is what 0.014 and 0.011 translates as in real terms.
Miami police confirmed those percentages Friday, but CNN notes lab results from other tests taken will be released within the next two to three weeks and may reveal the teen singer was intoxicated from marijuana at the time of his arrest.
It’s unclear how those results will impact the case if the DUI and expired license charges have been dropped.
Moving on to the surveillance video. Bieber’s Lamborghini is seen leading with a black SUV alongside making it impossible for another car to pass. Sharieff’s Ferrari is then seen behind it, followed by two other SUV’s and a lone police patrol car in hot pursuit.
At no point are the supercars side-by-side in a drag race position, contradicting the police report which stated:
“It appeared that the sports cars were preparing for a drag race,” the officer added that the estimated the speed of the two cars was 55 mph to 60 mph in a 30 mph zone.
However, on Friday TMZ revealed the GPS tracking system installed in both cars records they were travelling at 27 mph at the time the police claim they were speeding in the epically slow drag race.
That’s not to say the cars didn’t exceed the limit at some point.
According to the website, Bieber and Sharieff briefly clocked 52 mph and 47 mph before the police noticed them at a reported 34 mph in a 30 mph zone. But at the time of the supposed drag race, both vehicles were reportedly holding a steady 27 mph.
In conclusion, it’s not hard to see why Bieber – currently released on a $2,500 bond and hanging out in Panama with mentor Usher and manager Scooter Braun – is now only facing a charge of resistance to arrest without violence.
If you’re wondering who to send postcards to from Panama Biebs, try TMZ’s Mike Walters who broke the case down on On Air with Ryan Seacrest.
[Image via Instagram]
