Justin Timberlake Arrested for DUI

 Justin Timberlake was arrested in New York for driving under the influence, as confirmed by local officials to the BBC. The pop star was taken into custody and formally charged on Tuesday morning, according to a statement from the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office.

Timberlake was in Sag Harbor, a wealthy village in the Hamptons, a favorite summer spot for celebrities on Long Island. He was released without bail after being charged, the district attorney's office said.

The BBC has reached out to Timberlake's lawyer for a comment.

Timberlake's arrest occurred just after midnight (05:37 BST) when police stopped his grey BMW for running a stop sign and not staying in the correct lane, according to the charging document. The document noted that Timberlake's eyes were "bloodshot and glassy" and there was a "strong odour of an alcoholic beverage" on his breath. His speech was slow, and he did not perform well on sobriety tests, officials reported. He also refused to take a breathalyser test.

"I had one martini and I followed my friends home," Timberlake allegedly told the officer who pulled him over, as reported by CBS News, the BBC's US partner. Timberlake is set to appear in Sag Harbor court virtually on July 26.

His lawyer, Edward Burke Jr., stated to CBS on Tuesday evening that he "will vigorously defend his client and is currently engaged in the discovery process with the District Attorney’s Office."

Timberlake, 43, was preparing for a global tour of his sixth album, "Everything I Thought It Was." A former member of the boy band NSYNC, Timberlake is also a successful actor and one of the best-selling music artists worldwide. He has previously spoken openly about seeking help for excessive drinking.

In New York, penalties for driving while intoxicated can include up to a year in jail, a $1,000 fine, and a driver's license suspension for at least six months.

Timberlake was scheduled to perform two shows in Chicago this weekend, followed by a concert at Madison Square Garden in New York next Tuesday. The 10-time Grammy winner is also known for his roles in films like "The Social Network" and "Friends With Benefits." Timberlake is married to actress Jessica Biel, with whom he shares two children.

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