What Justin Timberlake Told Police During DWI Arrest

Justin Timberlake refused to be tested for impairment and allegedly told authorities that he had "one martini" when he was arrested for DWI in New York June 18, according to police.

By Gabrielle Chung Jun 18, 2024 8:43 PM
| Updated Jun 18, 2024 11:59 PM
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More details surrounding Justin Timberlake's DWI arrest have surfaced.

The *NSYNC alum was taken into police custody on June 18 after appearing to be in an "intoxicated condition" during a traffic stop in Sag Harbor, N.Y., according a criminal complaint by obtained by NBC News

Timberlake was behind the wheel of a gray BMW with Florida plates when he was pulled over around 12:17 a.m. for driving through a stop sign and failing to stay on the right side of the road, per the court filing.

While speaking with 43-year-old, authorities noticed that his eyes were "bloodshot and glassy," with a "strong odor of an alcoholic beverage was emanating from his breath," Sag Harbor Village officer Michael Arkinson wrote in the complaint. Arkinson also noted that Timberlake had "slowed speech" and was "unable to divide attention" throughout the encounter.

After the Grammy winner "performed poorly on all standardized field sobriety tests," Arkinson said the singer declined to be tested for impairment, allegedly telling police, "'No, I'm not doing a chemical test.'" 

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Justin Timberlake Through the Years

He went on to refuse the test two more time before he was read the Miranda rights and arrested, according to Arkinson.  

"This determination was based in part from undersigned's training and experience in detecting intoxication and in administering field sobriety tests and having been involved in numerous DWI cases," the officer wrote in the complaint, adding that Timberlake also allegedly told him during the traffic stop, "'I had one martini and I followed my friends home.'"

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The "SexyBack" artist was charged with one count of driving while intoxicated in a June 18 arraignment, according to court documents. He was released without bail after being held overnight.

As source with knowledge of the situation previously told E! News that Timberlake was at dinner with friends before his arrest.

"As he left the restaurant, there was a patrol car seemingly stationed near the restaurant," the insider shared. "He was stopped and, was arrested. Nobody was hurt."

E! News has reached out to Timberlake's rep for comment.

Keep reading to see Timberlake leaving the police station after his arrest.

Aftermath of His Arrest

Justin Timberlake was released from police custody on June 18, after he was arrested and charged with one count of driving while intoxicated in Sag Harbor, N.Y.

Stepping Out

The *NSYNC alum was seen leaving the police station in a black short-sleeved button-down paired with a dark graphic T-shirt, blue jeans, white sneakers and a black baseball cap.

Traffic Stop

The sighting came hours after Timberlake was pulled over by officers for running a stop sign and failing to stay in his lane of traffic, according to Sag Harbor police.

 

Legal Troubles

Timberlake allegedly had "strong odor of an alcoholic beverage" coming from his breath at the time of the traffic stop, police said in a criminal complaint obtained by NBC News.

Charged with DWI

Authorities also said that the Grammy winner had allegedly told the arresting officer, "'I had one martini and I followed my friends home.'"

The Night Of

Before his arrest, Timberlake was at dinner with friends, a source with knowledge of the situation told E! News. 

"As he left the restaurant, there was a patrol car seemingly stationed near the restaurant," the insider said. "He was stopped and was arrested. Nobody was hurt."

(E! and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)

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