|
 Detectives raided Bieber's home at about 8 a.m. after the
"Boyfriend" singer was accused of pelting his neighbor's home
with eggs in an incident on January 9.
Bieber, 19, was detained at his Calabasas home, about 30 miles
northwest of Los Angeles while a dozen deputies searched for
evidence.
"He has not been arrested nor has been exonerated," Sheriff's
Lt. David Thompson said at a news conference in nearby Malibu
following the search.
"We were looking at things that would put him or anything else
at the scene," Thompson said, adding that Bieber's attorneys
were not present during the search and the singer was not
questioned.
It was the latest in a string of incidents that have
overshadowed Bieber's music career in the last year as the
Canadian star who shot to fame at age 15 transitions to
adulthood.
Bieber's representatives did not immediately respond to a
request for comment.
The sheriff's department said the investigation sought to
collect any evidence in the alleged egg attack on the singer's
home video surveillance and other possible leads.
A unnamed person in Bieber's home at the time of the search was
arrested for narcotics possession when deputies found cocaine in
plain view, Thompson said.
[to top of second column] |
 NOT "A MESSAGE"
Celebrity news website TMZ.com identified the man as aspiring
20-year-old rapper Lil Za, who is often photographed with Bieber.
The website published photos and video of Lil Za, whose real
name Xavier Smith, handcuffed and being led to a deputy's car.
The rapper is being held on $20,000 bond, according
to county records.
The vandalism case is being treated as a felony because it caused
$20,000 in damage according to the homeowner, the sheriff's
department said.
"We didn't do this search warrant to send a message; that's not what
we do," Thompson said. "This has nothing to do with him being a
celebrity. This is a felony crime."
Thompson said the cost of damages was high because the exterior of
Bieber's neighbor's home was made of imported wood and brick.
It is not known what triggered the alleged incident between Bieber
and his neighbor, but the Canadian-born pop star has had several
publicized run-ins with neighbors.
Last year, Bieber was accused of speeding through the neighborhood
in a Ferrari sports car and also spitting on his neighbor during a
confrontation over parties at the singer's home. Prosecutors did not
bring charges against Bieber in either case.
(Reporting by Eric Kelsey; editing Mary
Milliken and Gunna Dickson)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
