Justin Timberlake sues to block bodycam footage release from 2024 DWI arrest
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Justin Timberlake is suing the village of Sag Harbor in an attempt to ban the release of body camera footage of his 2024 arrest, according to documents obtained by Fox News Digital.
Timberlake, 45, pleaded guilty to “driving while impaired” in September 2024 and received community service as well as a public apology as part of the plea agreement.
The “Can’t Stop The Feeling” singer filed a petition against the Sag Harbor Village Police Department on Monday; Robert Drake, in his official capacity as Chief of Police of the Sag Harbor Village Police Department; and the Village of Sag Harbor to prevent the public dissemination of eight hours of footage from the night of Timberlake’s arrest.
Justin Timberlake filed a lawsuit against the Village of Sag Harbor and its police department on Monday in an attempt to prevent the release of body camera footage of his 2024 DWI arrest. (Sag Harbor Police)
In the petition, Timberlake’s legal team alleged that on March 1, they were notified of the Department’s intent to respond to a request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIL) to release the entire eight hours of body camera footage from his arrest on June 18, 2024; these images were subject to “undisclosed redactions for ‘medical’ reasons and the security of the Sag Harbor police complex.”
Timberlake argued that the images “contain personally identifying information and private details that are not relevant to any law enforcement action of public concern and are not viewable by the public except in the presence and recording of law enforcement.”
“The footage at issue depicts Petitioner in an extremely vulnerable state during a roadside encounter with law enforcement, capturing intimate details of Petitioner’s physical appearance, demeanor, speech, and behavior during a field sobriety test, his subsequent arrest, and incarceration following Petitioner’s arrest over the next several hours,” the petition states. The statement was included.
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“The public dissemination of these images would cause serious and irreparable harm to Petitioner’s personal and professional reputation, subject Petitioner to public ridicule and harassment, and would serve no legitimate public interest in understanding the operations of the government.”
Justin Timberlake was arrested in June 2024 and charged with driving while impaired. (Sag Harbor Police Department)
Justin Timberlake pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of “driving while impaired” after reaching a plea deal with prosecutors. (TE McMorrow/Pool)
Timberlake asked the court to “prohibit the disclosure in whole or in part of the body-worn camera footage as an unwarranted invasion of privacy that is not subject to disclosure under FOIL.”
“The harm resulting from public exposure (stigma, harassment, reputational damage, and permanent loss of privacy) is immediate and irreparable,” the documents stated.
The arresting officer claimed in documents obtained by Fox News Digital that Timberlake “performed poorly on all standardized field sobriety tests” when he was pulled over by authorities on the morning of June 18.
According to the complaint, Timberlake’s eyes were “bloodshot and shiny,” his “breath exuded a strong odor of alcoholic beverages,” and he was “unable to concentrate.” The “Cry Me A River” singer also exhibited “slow speech” and was “unsteady on her feet.”
Timberlake’s lawyerEdward Burke Jr. He previously claimed police made “significant errors” during the musician’s arrest in June.
WATCH: JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE DRIVES IN HAMPTONS AHEAD OF DWI ARREST
“The most important fact to know about this case is that Justin was not drunk and should not have been arrested for DWI,” Burke said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “The police made a number of significant mistakes in this case. You heard in court today that the district attorney was trying to correct one of those mistakes. But that’s just one, and there are many more. Sometimes the police make mistakes, and this is just one of those examples.”
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Shortly after Timberlake pleaded guilty, he apologized for his actions in a public plea.
“This is a mistake I made, but I hope everyone watching and listening right now will learn from that mistake,” Timberlake said. “I know it totally is. And like I said, don’t get behind the wheel of a car, even if you’ve had a drink.”
Justin Timberlake speaks to the press after a hearing on Friday, September 13, 2024 in Sag Harbor, New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Timberlake was originally accused The district attorney’s office confirmed to Fox News Digital at the time that the charges were filed for one count of driving while intoxicated, as well as failure to turn right and failure to stop at a stop sign.
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The pop star told the arresting officer that he had a martini and followed some friends to their homes, according to the documents. After he was arrested and taken to a police station near East Hampton, he refused a breath test, according to court documents that list his occupation as “professional” and say he is “self-employed.”
Fox News Digital’s Lauryn Overhultz contributed to this report.
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