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Miami Beach – Police in Miami Beach say pop singer Justin Bieber admitted to consuming alcohol, smoking marijuana and taking prescription drugs, before he was arrested for drag racing on Thursday.
Bieber has been charged with resisting arrest without violence in addition to drag racing and drunken driving.
Police also say the singer told authorities he had consumed alcohol, smoked marijuana and taken prescription drugs.
Police Chief Ray Martinez told a news conference on Thursday morning the singer was initially not co-operative when an officer pulled him over for drag racing. Martinez says the singer also had an invalid Georgia driver's license.
According to police, Bieber was driving a rented yellow Lamborghini and R&B singer Khalil, who was also arrested, was driving a Ferrari. Both cars were towed.
Bieber failed a field sobriety test when police pulled him over at around 04:09 on Thursday, and was taken to the Miami Beach police station for a Breathalyser and processing, Miami Dade-Police spokesperson Bobby Hernandez told WSVN in South Florida.
An e-mail seeking comment from his publicist Melissa Victor was not immediately returned.
Under Florida law, people under the age of 21 are considered driving under the influence if they have a blood-alcohol content of .02 percent or more - a level he could reach with one drink. For 21 and over, it is .08 percent.
For a first drunken driving offense, there is no minimum sentence and a maximum of six months, a fine of $250 to $500, and 50 hours of community service. For anyone under 21, there is an automatic six-month license suspension.
First offense of a drag-racing offense nets a sentence of up to six months, a fine of $500 to $1 000, and a one-year license suspension.
Trouble with the law
Earlier this month, officials said that detectives in California searched Bieber's home looking for surveillance footage that might serve as evidence the pop star was involved in an egg-tossing vandalism case that caused thousands of dollars in damage to a neighbour's home. Officials said Bieber was at the home and co-operated with authorities
In that case, authorities arrested one member of Bieber's entourage on suspicion of drug possession: Lil Za, a rapper whose real name is Xavier Smith.
After being taken to jail, Smith had felony vandalism added to his potential charges and was released on bail at about 20:15.
The singer lives in a gated community in Calabasas, a celebrity enclave about 50km northwest of downtown Los Angeles.
Previous investigations into Bieber's conduct by the sheriff's department have not resulted in charges.
In October, prosecutors declined to charge Bieber after a neighbour complained he drove recklessly through the area. Prosecutors in November 2012 also declined to charge the singer after a paparazzo accused him of punching and hitting him after leaving a Calabasas movie theatre.
Justin Bieber was only 15 when his platinum-selling debut My World was released.
The singer from Ontario had placed second in a local singing contest two years earlier and began posting performances on YouTube, according to his official website.
The videos caught the attention of a talent agent who helped Bieber land an audition with R&B singer Usher. Usher, along with Island/Def Jam chair LA Reid, signed him to a recording contract.
