Justin Bieber arrested for assault
Jeremy Blacklow, Yahoo Yahoo7 News September 3, 2014, 5:55 am
Justin Bieber just added a new hit to add to his resume — according to Canadian authorities.
The pop singer was charged with assault and dangerous driving charges, stemming from an arrest Friday near his hometown of Stratford, Ontario, where he spent the getaway weekend with on-again girlfriend Selena Gomez.
Police were called around 3pm local time following an accident that involved a minivan and the all-terrain vehicle that Bieber was driving.
"Investigation revealed that after colliding, the driver of [the] ATV and an occupant of [the] minivan engaged in a [physical] altercation," the Ontario Provincial Police said in a statement.
Bieber, 20, was released on a "promise to appear" in court. He hearing is scheduled for September 29. No booking photo was released.
Justin Bieber posts a selfie with on-off girlfriend Selena Gomez. Photo: Instagram
For its part, Team Bieber released a statement putting the blame on intrusive photographers.
"Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez's peaceful retreat in Stratford this weekend was unfortunately disrupted by the unwelcome presence of paparazzi," the statement read.
"This has regrettably resulted in charges of dangerous driving and assault. Mr Bieber and Ms Gomez have fully cooperated in the police investigation. We are hopeful that this matter will be quickly resolved."
GALLERY: Justin Bieber's Downward Spiral
The bigger trouble for the "Baby" singer, though, could be how his new arrest affects the complicated web of other charges he's ensnared in.
In July he pleaded no contest and was charged with misdemeanor vandalism stemming from an egg-throwing incident against a neighbour's home in his former residence of Calabasas, California. He was ordered to pay around $90,000 in restitution, perform five days of community service, attend 12 weeks of anger-management classes, stay away from the victim and victim's family for two years, and lastly, he was put on two years of probation.
A month later, his legal team struck a plea deal in Miami to have DUI charges dropped after he agreed to attend anger-management courses (separate from his California classes).
Should these latest charges in Canada hold, it could lead to a probation violation — and potential jail time — in the California case.
Beyond that, Bieber is still facing criminal assault charges from a separate case in Toronto, as well as a civil lawsuit stemming from a 2013 incident in Hawaii in which the singer and his bodyguard were accused of attacking a paparazzo.
