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Justin Timberlake's arrest following a night of drinking at the American Hotel in New York stunned many in the entertainment world. Although it has since become clear that Timberlake has struggled with alcohol abuse for several years, for many, the former NSYNC singer's apprehension seemed to have come out of nowhere.
However, new details have revealed that local police were aware of Timberlake's whereabouts on the night of his arrest, and a rookie cop quickly reached the 43-year-old singer as he was seen weaving in and out of traffic after blowing through a stop sign.
A tip about Timberlake
According to the New York Post, the owner of a restaurant in the Hamptons said that a concerned patron called police to alert them that a visibly-intoxicated Timberlake was contemplating leaving the American Hotel and getting behind the wheel of his new BMW.
"(They) said Justin was having a lot of drinks, and they told the cop to watch him if he is going to drive," the unidentified restaurant owner said about the unidentified patron.
Timberlake was stopped twice by young officer Michael Arkinson, who initially let him off with a warning before busting him a few minutes later. Timberlake's subsequent mugshot, showing his bloodshot eyes, has since gone viral across the internet.
The restaurateur who spoke with the Post further stated that they believe "Hamptons regular" Timberlake was "mistreated," and even called into question the widely-reported contention that Arkinson did not know who the "Cry Me a River" singer was. Timberlake on Friday addressed the arrest while at a tour stop in Chicago, eliciting cheers from the United Center crowd when he said "I know I'm hard to love sometimes, but you keep loving me right back."