SAG HARBOR, New York (WABC) -- Singer Justin Timberlake was not driving drunk when he was pulled over in Sag Harbor last month, his attorney insisted after court Friday.
"He was not intoxicated. I'll say it again. Justin Timberlake was not intoxicated," said Ed Burke, Timberlake's attorney in his first public comments. "And we are very confident that charge, that criminal charge, will be dismissed."
Timberlake, who did not appear Friday, will be re-arraigned on the misdemeanor charges of driving while intoxicated and failing to keep right.
There was a problem with the charging instrument that prosecutors must correct, necessitating the new arraignment.
"Justin should not have been arrested for driving while intoxicated. The police made a number of very significant errors in this case. You heard the DA try to fix one of those errors, but that's just one, and there are many others. Sometimes the police, like every one of us, make mistakes. And that's the case in this very instance," Burke said.
Police say last month, Timberlake, 43, drove through a stop sign and swerved into a lane of oncoming traffic.
Surveillance video shows captured Timberlake driving his car in Sag Harbor before the arrest.
Authorities said they saw Timberlake driving a 2025 BMW on Madison Street when he failed to stop and failed to maintain his lane of travel. When police pulled him over they said Timberlake "was operating his vehicle in an intoxicated condition."
"Justin respects law enforcement. He recognizes the very important job that they do and he cooperated with the police officers from the second he was ordered out of his car to the second he was charged," Burke said.
According to the criminal complaint, police determined Timberlake was driving drunk, had bloodshot, glassy eyes and "a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage" emanating from his breath. He also had slowed speech, was unsteady on his feet and performed poorly on a field sobriety test, the complaint said.
Timberlake told the arresting officer he had only one drink, according to the criminal complaint. Court documents also note Timberlake refused to take a chemical test three times.
The singer was reportedly having dinner with friends at The American Hotel and was pulled over shortly after leaving.
He is currently on the road with his Forget Tomorrow World Tour. His next concert dates are in Poland.
Timberlake is due back in court on August 2 in Sag Harbor. He is set to attend virtually.
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