Justin Bieber Hits Hockey Game As Alleged Reckless Driving, Battery Investigations Continue
Justin Bieber appeared carefree as he, rapper Lil Twist, and another friend took in an ice hockey game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday night.
The game — between the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings — rather than a just opened L.A. County Sheriff’s Department investigation into claims that he drove recklessly around the Calabasas, California gated community seemed to be uppermost on the singer’s mind.
On the basis of two witness complaints, detectives are now investigating the 19-year-old for reckless driving in the exclusive enclave where he has a home. One of those witnesses is former NFL wide receiver now ESPN commentator, Keyshawn Johnson.
At about 8 pm Monday, May 27, Bieber allegedly drove his white Ferrari at freeway speeds in what is a 25 mph zone, Sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore said.
Johnson says he was outside by his electric Prius car while his three-year-old daughter prepped to get into the car when Bieber allegedly raced by. Johnson, upset at the speed of the vehicle, got into his Prius, and followed the Ferrari to the teen singer’s home.
On arriving at Bieber’s property, the 40-year-old claims he put out his arm to stop the Canadian’s garage door from closing and told the singer he wanted to talk about his [alleged] reckless driving.
Whitmore said Bieber “scurried” inside his home without speaking to Johnson.
Responding to two complaints, deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department visited the pop star’s home. However, they were unable to talk to Bieber.
“His security detail said he declined to talk to us based on the advice of counsel,” Whitmore said.
After interviewing Johnson and the other witness, the deputies handed off their reports to detectives who are continuing to investigate the incident.
Despite a conflicting Radar Online report that Tyler Gregory Okonma — a 22-year-old rapper-producer also known as Tyler, The Creator — was driving the Ferrari at the time of the alleged reckless incident, Whitmore said of the witnesses.
“Their eyewitness testimony to our deputies was definitive — not only the speed, not only the vehicle, but Mr. Bieber was sitting and driving in the driver’s side seat.”
TMZ are reporting that sources close to the teen singer say he was not driving his Ferrari at the time of the alleged reckless driving incident. The website also reports sources as saying Johnson saw Bieber jump out of the car and run into the house. TMZ claim law enforcement officials said multiple witnesses “clearly saw” Bieber driving the car.
Deputies will be sending a reckless driving report to the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office to consider filing misdemeanor charges against Bieber in the next week or two, the Associated Press reports.
“We take this very seriously and if this actually did occur, which it appears that it did, it is unacceptable behavior from anybody, anywhere, anytime,” Whitmore said of the reckless driving allegations.
Prosecutors at the District Attorney’s office are currently looking at whether to charge Bieber with battery in relation to a separate allegation made by another Calabasas neighbor who claims Bieber spat and threatened him during a heated argument in March.
According to TMZ, sources close to the battery investigation say Bieber’s team have informed the D.A. that they have a witness prepared to swear under oath that the singer did not spit. The website said the D.A.’s office will not be making a decision until they have interviewed that witness.
TMZ notes that a witness for the alleged battery victim is reportedly willing to testify that Bieber did spit in the alleged victim’s face.
As yet, Bieber’s publicist have made no comment on either investigation.
Bieber is currently on a break between tour legs, having completed the first leg on May 12. The second North American leg resumes from June 22 in San Diego. Tickets for additional Believe tour shows in Australia, Asia and South America are expected to go on sale within the next two weeks.
