Singer Justin Timberlake Arrested in New York for Drunk Driving

Pop star Justin Timberlake was arrested in New York for driving while intoxicated, local officials told the BBC. The 43-year-old singer was formally charged on Tuesday morning by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.

Timberlake was in Sag Harbor, a posh village in the Hamptons on Long Island, popular with celebrities. He was released without bail after being charged.

The incident happened just after midnight (05:37 BST) when police stopped Timberlake’s grey BMW for driving through a stop sign and not staying on the right side of the road. The charging document stated that his eyes were “bloodshot and glassy” and there was a “strong odour of an alcoholic beverage” on his breath. His speech was slow, and he did poorly on sobriety tests. He also refused a breathalyser test.

Timberlake allegedly told the officer, “I had one martini and I followed my friends home.” He is set to appear virtually in Sag Harbor court on 26 July.

His lawyer, Edward Burke Jr, told CBS News that he “will vigorously defend his client and is currently engaged in the Discovery process with the District Attorney’s Office.”

Timberlake has been touring the US to promote his sixth album, “Everything I Thought It Was,” and is set to start the international leg of his tour next week in Poland. A former member of the 90s boy band NSYNC, Timberlake is also an actor, songwriter, and one of the best-selling music artists globally. He has openly talked about seeking help for excessive drinking.

In New York, penalties for drunk driving include up to a year in jail, a $1,000 (£786) fine, and a driver’s licence suspension for at least six months. Timberlake was supposed to perform two shows in Chicago this weekend and a show at New York’s Madison Square Garden next Tuesday.

The 10-time Grammy winner is known for his roles in films like “The Social Network” and “Friends With Benefits.” Timberlake is married to actor Jessica Biel, and they have two children.