Justin Timberlake arrested on DWI charge in Hamptons, told police 'I had one martini' (2024)

SAG HARBOR, N.Y. — Justin Timberlake claimed he had just "one martini" before he was pulled over, failed field sobriety tests and was arrested on suspicion of intoxicated driving early Tuesday in the affluent Hamptons area of Long Island, police said.

The pop superstar — identified as a 43-year-old Franklin, Tennessee, resident in the criminal complaint — was arraigned and released without having to post bail about nine hours after his arrest, police said.

Timberlake pleaded not guilty and was ordered to appear in court on July 26, officials said.

Timberlake was behind the wheel of a gray Florida-registered BMW when he was stopped a little after 12:15 a.m. near Madison Street and Middle Line Highway, initially for driving through a stop sign and failing to stay on the right side of the road, according to the criminal complaint.

But once police spoke to Timberlake, they said it was clear the motorist was not in shape to drive, according to the complaint written by Sag Harbor Village police officer Michael Arkinson.

It was "ascertained that the defendant was operating said vehicle in an intoxicated condition in that his eyes were bloodshot and glassy, a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage was emanating from his breath, he was unable to divide attention, he had slowed speech, he was unsteady afoot, and he performed poorly on all standardized field sobriety tests," Arkinson wrote.

Timberlake struggled to walk heel-to-toe and stand on one foot without swaying or using arms to balance, the report said.

The officer quoted Timberlake as saying: "I had one martini and I followed my friends home."

He also declined to be tested for impairment, allegedly telling police, "No, I'm not doing a chemical test."

"A refusal can be introduced at trial to establish conscious evidence of guilt," NBC News legal analyst Danny Cevallos said. "It is the predicate for a revocation of driving privileges."

Timberlake had dined at The American Hotel in the Hamptons community of Sag Harbor "and then headed to a friend’s house when he was pulled over by police," a source close to the musician said.

While the property where The American Hotel now sits can trace its roots back to before 1776, this edition of the inn wasn't restored and opened again until 1972.

The American Hotel boasts an extensive wine list that includes dozens of four-digit offerings.

It's a popular spot for Hamptons visitors and the rich and famous of Long Island. Famed "Piano Man" Billy Joel was spotted having lunch there Tuesday.

Joel, who has had his own history with DWI, said he didn't feel comfortable commenting on this presumed innocent man, Timberlake.

"Judge not less ye be judged," Joel told reporters before heading off on his motorcycle.

Timberlake is set to play in Chicago on Friday and Saturday before playing Madison Square Garden in New York City next week on Tuesday and Wednesday.

His "The Forget Tomorrow World Tour" had been in Miami on Saturday and Tampa on Friday.

Just a day before his arrest, Timberlake's wife, actor Jessica Biel, gushed about "the rock" of their family, pledging to keep her husband "eternally grounded and warm."

Biel's loving words stand in stark contrast to the backlash Timberlake has faced from fans of former girlfriend Britney Spears.

Timberlake, who rose to fame in the pop group ‘N Sync, was not portrayed flatteringly in Spears' memoir from last year, “The Woman in Me.” The pair, who first met as kids on the set of “The Mickey Mouse Club,”dated from 1999 to2002.

Spears wrote that she had an abortion after getting pregnant by Timberlake and accused him of cheating on her “a couple of times.”

In January, Spears apologized on social media for offending anyone with her memoir and complimented Timberlake on his latest single. Days later at a show in New York City, Timberlake kicked off another round of online criticism by saying he’d “like to take this opportunity to apologize — to absolutely f---ing nobody.”

Pei-SzeCheng and Adam Reiss reported from Sag Harbor, New York, and David K. Li and Brittany Kubicko reported from New York City.