Miami Beach police confirmed the arrests of
19-year-old singer and an R&B singer known as Khalil in tweets from
the department's official account.
Officers saw two cars racing at 4:09 am Thursday,
with two vehicles apparently used to block the area off, Miami
Dade-Police spokesman Sgt Bobby Hernandez told WSVN in South Florida.
According to police, Bieber was driving a Lamborghini and Khalil was driving a Ferrari. Both cars were towed.
Bieber failed a field sobriety test and was taken
to the Miami Beach police station for a Breathalyzer and processing,
Hernandez said.
Bieber and Khalil both face charges of drag-racing and driving under the influence.
Bieber will be transported to the Miami-Dade County jail, Hernandez said.
An email seeking comment from his publicist Melissa Victor was not immediately returned.
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The street where police say Bieber was racing is a
palm-tree-lined residential area in mid-Miami Beach. Along one side of
the street are small apartment buildings, and on the other side are a
high school, a youth center, a golf course and a city firehouse.
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 DUI offense, there is no minimum
sentence and a maximum of six months, a fine of US$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 US$500 to $1,000, and a one-year
license suspension.
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
neighbor's home. Officials said Bieber was at the home and cooperated
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 8:15 pm.
The singer lives in a gated community in Calabasas, a celebrity enclave about 30 miles 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 neighbor 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 theater.
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
chairman L.A. Reid, signed him to a recording contract.
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