Bobby Brown accused of test refusal, DUI and driving without interlock
Another alleged minor traffic violation has brought singer Bobby Brown into the news. Police say that Brown committed some sort of traffic violation around 1:00 Wednesday morning on Ventura Boulevard in Tarzana, California. The officer apparently grew suspicious that Brown may have been under the influence, which led to field sobriety tests. Police claim that Brown did not do well in the physical tests.
Authorities say that Brown was cooperative throughout the process. He was booked into jail and released later Wednesday morning on $25,000 bail.
This is not the first time that Brown has faced California DUI charges after a traffic stop this year. Brown was pulled over in March for allegedly talking on a cellphone. Officers said that Brown smelled of alcohol during that traffic stop as well, and the singer was later convicted of DUI. Brown entered into a plea agreement in that DUI case.
That prior DUI case has made the current charges more complicated. Authorities say that Brown had a restricted driver's license that requires him to have an ignition interlock device installed on his car. Prosecutors claim that no such device was on the car. Police also claim that Brown refused to submit to an alcohol test in the recent DUI investigation.
Prosecutors have charged the singer with multiple California DUI-related offenses. The test refusal allegation and failure to have an interlock device claim are accompanied by a charge that he was driving under the influence with a prior conviction. Brown is scheduled for arraignment November 16.
Sources:
- New York Daily News, "Bobby Brown arrested for DUI in Los Angeles for the second time in seven months," Nancy Dillon, Oct. 24, 2012
- New York Daily News, "Bobby Brown was without court-ordered Breathalyzer when arrested on suspicion of DUI: prosecutors," Nancy Dillon, Oct. 26, 2012