Timberlake faced a judge early Tuesday morning after police said the pop star told them he had a single martini at a hotel in Sag Harbor. Officers said he appeared to have “slowed speech” along with “bloodshot and glassy” eyes when he was pulled over after rolling through a stop sign on Madison Street. NBC New York’s Pei-Sze Cheng reports.
Justin Timberlake was arrested on New York's Long Island on a driving while intoxicated charge after refusing three times to take a chemical test following his stop for rolling through a stop sign, according to a criminal complaint.
An officer observed that and trailed Timberlake, who was pulled over after failing twice to stay on the right side of the road shortly before 1 a.m. Tuesday., the complaint says. The cop who stopped him says the so-dubbed "Prince of Pop" appeared to be drunk, with bloodshot, glassy eyes and a strong smell of alcohol on his breath.
"I had one martini and I followed my friends home," Timberlake allegedly told officers.
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Driving a grey BMW with Florida license plates, Timberlake initially failed to stop at the stop sign on Madison Street at Jermain Avenue, before having trouble staying on the right side of the lane several times on Madison, according to the complaint. Police said they saw him swerve twice before they pulled him over.
The complaint says Timberlake was unsteady and had slowed speech; he also allegedly performed poorly on field sobriety tests. They said he couldn't focus on speaking to police while he was looking for his registration, either.
Officers took him to the Sag Village Police Department for processing, where the complaint says he refused three times over the course of about 40 minutes to take a chemical test of his blood alcohol content.
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"No, I'm not doing a chemical test," Timberlake said according to the complaint. The singer reiterated twice, "I refuse."
"A refusal can be introduced at trial to establish conscious evidence of guilt," NBC News legal analyst Danny Cevallos said. "It is the predicate for a revocation of driving privileges."
They also have the encounter on body and dash cameras, but the footage has not been released.
He was then taken to East Hampton Town police headquarters and held overnight ahead of his morning arraignment. Timberlake was released on his own recognizance after that hearing.
Timberlake pleaded not guilty in court and was ordered back on July 26, officials said.
The Suffolk County District Attorney's office had no further comment. Neither the singer nor his representatives could immediately be reached for comment.
Early Tuesday morning, Timberlake was leaving The American Hotel on Main Street, a popular spot in Sag Harbor. Famed singer Billy Joel lives in the town and was spotted at the hotel and restaurant Tuesday by an NBC News crew.
"I don't really know him that much, so I have no comment," Joel said when asked about Timberlake's encounter with police.
"Judge not, lest ye be judged," Joel added.
"I know when I go out and party, me and my friends we get an Uber," said Sag Harbor resident Tony Delpino. "We got a Lyft, because if we drink, we don’t take our cars. If you were gonna have a drink, I’m not getting in your car."
"If you’re going to drink, don’t drive, especially for celebrities," Sag Harbor resident Vanessa Leggard said. "They have the money to hire a driver. Why are you driving?"
The arrest comes amid Timberlake's first world tour in nearly six years. The pop icon is scheduled to perform at Madison Square Garden in New York City next week on June 25 and 26.
Madison Square Garden Entertainment representatives deferred questions to Timberlake's representatives.
Sag Harbor is a coastal village in the Hamptons, around 100 miles from New York City. In the summer, it is a hot spot for wealthy visitors.
