Justin Bieber is suspected of committing criminal battery against a paparazzo in Calabasas, TMZ is reporting. The singer, who lives in the Californian city, was at The Commons mall when the incident occurred in the early afternoon yesterday. A photographer tried to take Bieber’s picture, and police are saying a physical altercation erupted between the two afterward.
The paparazzo called 911, but when police arrived on the scene, Bieber and his girlfriend, Selena Gomez, had already left. The photographer complained of pain in his upper torso, so an ambulance was summoned and he was taken to a local hospital. He was examined and subsequently released a short time later.
The photographer later filed a police report, and named Bieber was the person who attacked him. Police are investigating the incident as misdemeanor battery.
Police are looking to question Bieber, Gomez and any other witnesses to the incident. So far, Bieber’s rep has yet to comment on the case.
Witnesses are reportedly saying that a lawyer walked up to the photographer after the incident and said he could get a lot of money from the attack. He advised the paparazzo to call for an ambulance and file a police report.
However, witnesses are also saying the photographer was blocking Bieber’s car as he was trying to leave. The singer asked the photographer to move but he wouldn’t, and a fight ensued.
Written by: Karen Benardello
