Police release video of Justin Timberlake’s drunk driving arrest
· Toronto Sun
Police have released video of singer Justin Timberlake struggling to perform a field sobriety test after being pulled over in the New York’s Hamptons in 2024.
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The video, which was released Friday, showed the Cry Me A River hitmaker struggling during the sobriety tests, which required him to walk in a straight line and stand on one leg. Officers from the Sag Harbor Village Police Department suspected Timberlake of driving drunk.
“These are really like really hard tests,” Timberlake tells the officers in the footage.
The video runs about eight hours and includes footage of Timberlake’s initial stop after he ran a stop sign, veered out of his lane and got out of his BMW allegedly reeking of alcohol in June 2024.
‘I’m Justin Timberlake’
The one-time NSYNC member can be heard telling officers he drank one martini and had been following friends home in Sag Harbor, an affluent beach town of the Hamptons, located about 160 km east of New York City.
An officer asked the singer why he’s in town, to which Timberlake replied: “I’m on a world tour.”
“Doing what?” asked the officer.
“Hard to explain,” the singer said before stammering, “World tour. I’m Justin Timberlake.”
The cop asked Timberlake if he had his licence with him.
Timberlake is then asked to perform the field sobriety tests, which he struggles with. He appeared to be flustered and even told authorities that he’s nervous and that his “heart is racing.”
Timberlake is arrested and taken to a police station.
‘I’m going to be here all night?’
While at the station, the Suit & Tie singer was told he would be held overnight, which surprised Timberlake.
“I’m going to be here all night?” he said. “You guys are wild, man.”
Timberlake asks the officer to keep the light on in his holding cell as they lock the door.
Sag Harbor Police released the footage after the Village and Timberlake’s lawyers agreed to show a redacted version of it.
The singer’s lawyers sued in an attempt to block the video’s release, claiming it would “devastate” Timberlake’s privacy and subject him to “public ridicule and harassment.”
In the joint filing with Sag Harbor, the lawyers stated the video “does not constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy under” the state’s public information law and agreed to its release.
Sag Harbor attorney Vincent Toomey said he’s pleased the matter has been resolved and they were able to comply with public records law.
“From the beginning of this matter, after Mr. Timberlake’s arrest, the Village has attempted to comply with the mandates of the Freedom of Information Law,” said the statement.
“As would be true in any case involving records or video footage from our Police Department, such material is reviewed and redacted to address public and officer safety concerns as well as personal privacy considerations.”
In September 2024, Timberlake pleaded guilty to impaired driving.
As part of the plea deal, the singer agreed to give a public safety announcement against drunk driving. The deal knocked his misdemeanour charge down to a non-criminal traffic violation.
Timberlake was sentenced to 25 hours of community service, a 90-day licence suspension and a $500 fine.
– With files from The Associated Press