Justin Bieber charged with assault for alleged attack on Toronto limo driver
Justin Bieber charged with assault for alleged attack on Toronto limo driver
Justin Bieber charged with assault for alleged attack on Toronto limo driver
By Ishmael N. Daro, Canada.com January 30, 2014 12:25 AM
Justin Bieber was hustled into a Toronto police station Wednesday, to reportedly be charged with assault. He was greeted by a swarm of media, screaming fans and people just there for the spectacle.
Justin Bieber’s reputation for violence and recklessness got another boost Wednesday when the Canadian pop singer was charged in Toronto for assault of a limo driver.
The charge stems from an incident on Dec. 30, when a limousine driver says someone in Bieber’s entourage attacked him while he was ferrying the group around Toronto. The driver is said to have exited the vehicle and called police, but the assailant left the scene before cops arrived.
It was not clear at the time if the 19-year-old singer had taken part in the alleged assault, but the charge removes all doubt.
0129 21:41 Man Arrested & Chrgd After Assault Invst, Justin Bieber, 19, Faces One Chg tps.to/28439—
Toronto Police (@TorontoPolice) January 30, 2014
It was a chaotic scene at the 52 Division police station Wednesday as reports surfaced the mega-star was on his way to Toronto for criminal charges. Toronto Police, likely aware of the media circus that would ensue, originally refused to confirm whether Bieber was headed back to Canada to face charges. “So please don’t bother calling,” advised the official police Twitter account.
Duty Desk, 52 Division and Toronto Police Corp Comm cannot confirm any media reports about Justin Bieber, so please don't bother calling ^sm—
Toronto Police (@TorontoPolice) January 30, 2014
However, the leaked news turned out to be true and Bieber arrived at the 52 Division police station at about 7:30 p.m., wading through a crowd of journalists and screaming Beliebers as his entourage waited outside. He apparently recorded a promotional video on his Instagram account and then managed to sneak past media without being seen some time before 9:30.
According to a police statement, Bieber — identified as a resident of Calabasas, Calif. — is scheduled to appear in court at Toronto’s Old City Hall on Monday, March 10 at 11 a.m.
“Our position is that Mr. Bieber is innocent,” the teen heartthrob’s lawyers said in a terse written statement, insisting it was “inappropriate to address the specifics” of the case.
Incidentally, the singer has chosen the same law firm representing Alexander “Sandro” Lisi, friend of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, finally bridging the tragic storylines of Canada’s two biggest celebrities.
The assault charge is only the latest of legal troubles for the pop singer.
Bieber was arrested Jan. 23 in Miami and booked for driving under the influence during a drag race, only weeks after his California home was raided by police after the singer allegedly egged his neighbour’s house and caused thousands in damages to the home.
He has also been previously accused of violence by a bodyguard and a photographer.
Also on Wednesday, a White House petition to get Bieber deported from the United States surpassed 100,000 signatures, which triggers an official response from the Obama administration.
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