Justin Bieber has been joined in Panama by his longtime manager Scooter Braun, mentor Usher, childhood friend Ryan Butler, former ‘swagger’ coach Ryan Good, and other team members following his Friday flight from Miami, Florida, after his DUI arrest on Thursday.
As IQ originally reported , Usher, Braun, Good and Butler were spotted by locals in Nitro City, a sports resort in Panama on Saturday.
An employee from Nitro City told E! News ,
“Justin and some of his team are here in Panama to relax and do some sports. They have been skateboarding, riding motocross, riding four-wheelers, jet skis and wakeboarding. And today, Usher is learning to kite board.”
After a shirtless Bieber and model Chantel Jeffries, 21, were spotted hanging out on Punta Chame beach on Saturday by Panamanian website Telemetro , it had been assumed the 19-year-old – who was released on a $2,500 bond after he was charged with DUI, resisting arrest without violence, and driving with an expired license in Miami Beach – was in Central America with just Jeffries.
Police caught the superstar and his pal, R&B singer Khalil Amir Sharieff, also 19, allegedly drag-racing along a residential street. Both were stopped by the single patrol cruiser after a reportedly 15-block chase before being arrested for suspected DUI . Bieber was driving a yellow Lamborghini with Jeffries in the passenger seat while Sharieff drove a red Ferrari.
However, after pictures of Usher, Braun, Good, and Butler, posing with Panamanian fans surfaced on Instagram and Twitter Saturday, it’s now believed an emergency summit or at least a meaningful “sit down” with Bieber is taking place.
Hollywood Life reports Mallette is also in Panama. But as yet IQ have not seen pictures to support that.
It’s highly likely the main priority of the summit will be to address Bieber’s alleged drug use and not simply the state of his career, in light of the serious legal challenges he now faces.
Even before Bieber’s F-bomb laden arrest, during which officers allege the teen superstar admitted he was taking prescription medication, smoked marijuana, and consumed one beer previously, reports alleging the Canadian singer is regularly using drugs quantumed after his live-in companion Xavier “Lil Za” Smith was arrested for suspected felony drug possession [ CNN reports MDMA has been confirmed as one of the drugs found], during an egging-related police raid by Los Angeles County Sheriffs at Bieber’s Calabasas, California, home on January 14.
At the time, police stated Bieber “was not connected” to the drug find adding the substances were found among Smith’s belongings in his bedroom. They also later denied a January 20 TMZ report which claimed Bieber’s house was a “treasure trove of drugs.”
TMZ allege Bieber uses “sizzurp” – a cough syrup containing codeine and promethazine to which soda and candy are typically added.
It can cause seizures and even death if high doses or alcohol are regularly taken. It’s also alleged Bieber is dependent on prescription pills, marijuana, and alcohol.
The website published pictures Saturday purportedly showing drugs and drug paraphernalia taken at the beginning of 2013 in Bieber’s home.
(Photo via Twitter: Braun, Bieber, Usher In Panama)
Over the last few weeks, various media outlets reported sources either connected to Braun and his team, Bieber, or Pattie, have been urging Justin to consider rehab or psychotherapy to deal with his alleged habit, as his apparent erratic behavior continued.
Now, matters appear to have come to a head with Braun, Usher, Butler, Good, and others, gathered in Panama .
“Love you and I will act in the manner of someone who truly cares. that is all I have to say. thanks for all concerned, “ Braun tweeted to Bieber on Thursday amid looping worldwide reports of the singer’s arrest.
Meanwhile, CNN reports L.A detectives are close to bringing evidence to prosecutors after examining home security video seized at the singer’s house during the raid. The D.A.will then decide whether to bring a felony charge.
The outlet notes, the felony vandalism case could be a bigger threat to Bieber’s career as an artist than the DUI arrest.
It has since been established the singer’s blood alcohol level in two Breathalyzer tests was estimated at 0.014 and 0.011 ,
Both are below the general 0.08 legal limit and Florida’s 0.02 limit for under 21’s.
my friend with usher nitro city, panama jan 25 2014 #justinbieber #usher pic.twitter.com/48BVz9rpEn
— HE FOLLOWED ME (@thelumilarrys) January 26, 2014
my friend with scooter braun nitro city, panama jan 25, 2014 #scooterbraun #justinbieber pic.twitter.com/t5ftjHXtMb
— HE FOLLOWED ME (@thelumilarrys) January 26, 2014
@bieberskarma10 , some other girl and ryan good yesterday jan 25 in nitro city panama pic.twitter.com/jdbErdu7S8
— HE FOLLOWED ME (@thelumilarrys) January 26, 2014
CNN adds a felony vandalism conviction could mean jail time (maximum three years), but probation is more likely. However, this could severely restrict Bieber’s freedom to tour or perform abroad if he has to comply with possible rehab or other probation requirements.
Further blood-alcohol results are expected from more thorough lab tests within the next two to three weeks to determine whether Bieber was high on marijuana in the DUI case.
It’s thought the Breathalyzer results and GPS tracking system in the Lamborghini — which, according to TMZ showed the vehicles were doing 27 mph at the time police claimed they were seen speeding— may help the singer’s case.
Back in Panama , Bieber, Usher, Braun, Good, Butler, and whoever else is at the summit have their work cut out.
Bieber in Panama with Jeffries and friends.
Bieber wakeboarding in Panama.