Justin Bieber arrested for drunk driving, drag racing

Miami, Jan 24 (IANS/EFE) Teen idol Justin Bieber was arrested Thursday morning in Miami Beach for drunk driving and drag racing, police said.

Miami Beach detective Bob Hernandez told the media that two vehicles were drag racing in a residential neighbourhood of the city and officers arrested both the drivers, one of whom was Bieber, for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Bieber, 19, is being held by Miami Beach police on charges of "DUI, resisting arrest and drag racing," and "is being processed" at the police station, Hernandez added.

The name of Bieber's attorney is not known and it is also not yet known when he will present a request to be released on bail.

The Canadian singer, who was driving his yellow Lamborghini at the time of his arrest, refused to comply with police when they tried to search him and resisted them, police said, and they had no choice to but to arrest him.

Miami Beach police chief Raymond Martinez told The Miami Herald that the singer did not have a valid driver's licence and kept his hands in his pockets

Tabloid news website TMZ said that Bieber had left a nightclub earlier in the morning after partying there with friends. The person Bieber was racing on the street was driving a red Lamborghini and was also arrested.

TMZ also reported that Bieber had a female passenger -- "a model" -- in his car at the time of his arrest.

Bieber's arrest comes just a few days after Los Angeles police raided his home to investigate his involvement in acts of vandalism in his neighbourhood.

--IANS/EFE

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