WATCH ABOVE: Justin Bieber charged following an ATV crash near Stratford. Cindy Pom reports.
TORONTO — Pop star Justin Bieber was charged Friday with assault and dangerous driving following a collision between an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) and a minivan near Stratford, Ont.
Ontario Provincial Police in Perth County filed the charges following an incident Aug. 29 around 3 p.m. allegedly involving Bieber, who was visiting his hometown with girlfriend Selena Gomez, and Toronto-based photographers Todd Gillis and Sean O’Neill.
Police allege there was an altercation between the drivers after the ATV collided with Gillis’ vehicle.
Constable Kees Wijnands told The Canadian Press there were no injuries as a result of the collision, but could not say whether there were any injuries from the altercation.
Bieber was arrested and released on a promise to appear.
The case is scheduled for a Stratford courthouse on Sept. 29.
“Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez’s peaceful retreat in Stratford this weekend was unfortunately disrupted by the unwelcome presence of the paparazzi,” Brian Greenspan, Bieber’s Toronto lawyer, said in a statement.
“This has regrettably resulted in charges of dangerous driving and assault. Mr. Bieber and Ms. Gomez have fully cooperated in the police investigation. We are hopeful that this matter will be quickly resolved.”
O’Neill, who works for CTV’s eTalk, and Gillis syndicate their photos worldwide through California-based agency Pacific Coast News.
They captured several photos of Bieber and Gomez riding an ATV together and taking turns at the controls.
Gillis declined to comment and referred Global News to his lawyer.
WATCH: OPP Const. Kees Wijnands discusses the circumstances that led to Justin Bieber’s arrest near Straford, Ont.
In a statement on Tuesday afternoon, high-profile U.S. lawyer Gloria Allred said: “I represent two victims in the incident in Canada for which charges have been filed against Justin Bieber… My clients will have no other comment at this time. All evidence has been provided to the Canadian authorities.”
Neither Bieber or Gomez were wearing helmets, as required by provincial law when on public property.
“Helmets are required but the charge is dangerous driving so not having a helmet all goes towards that offence,” Cst. Wijnands told Global News. “We look at the total package of what occurred there.”
Neither Bieber or Gomez has publicly commented on the incident.
Gomez posted a photo on Instagram hours after the incident from on board a private jet. “NY bound,” she wrote. “Peaceful trip.
On Aug. 30, Bieber tweeted: “Happy.”
Bieber, 20, already faces an assault charge in Toronto following an altercation between a limo driver and a passenger last December. The case is back in court Sept. 8.
Last month, Bieber pleaded guilty to careless driving and resisting arrest stemming from his arrest in Miami Beach on Jan. 23.
The pop star’s father Jeremy Bieber was convicted of assault causing bodily harm in Stratford in 1997 and sentenced to 90 days in jail and two years of probation. He was charged again with assault causing bodily harm in 2002 but the case was dismissed in January 2004.
Justin Bieber was born in London, Ont. but grew up in Stratford, about 150 km west of Toronto.
– with files by The Canadian Press
Comments