Justin Timberlake ignored officer’s warning before DWI arrest in Sag Harbor

The officer didn’t recognize him; he’s a young guy. And he still gave Justin a break’, source stated.

Justin Timberlake, 43, was arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI) in Sag Harbor, Long Island, after ignoring a warning from the same officer who later detained him.

According to a local law enforcement source, Timberlake was initially stopped on Tuesday morning and advised not to drive. "The officer didn’t recognize him; he’s a young guy. And he still gave Justin a break, because he didn’t pose an immediate danger," the source told The Post. However, minutes later, the same officer observed Timberlake driving again and stopped him.

Timberlake, driving a 2025 BMW SUV, allegedly ran a stop sign and swerved into the left lane, leading to the second stop. The officer noted that Timberlake was unsteady on his feet, slurred his speech, and smelled strongly of alcohol. Timberlake refused to blow into a Breathalyzer after being asked three times, and court documents indicated he "performed poorly" on several field sobriety tests.

Friends of Timberlake, speaking to NewsNation’s Paula Froelich, criticized the media coverage and described the officer as "a typical Hamptons overzealous cop." One friend said, "He made him do a sobriety test which he agreed to do... and then the guy continued to hassle him and wanted him to do a Breathalyzer, and Justin smartly and rightfully said no."

During the incident, Timberlake expressed concern about the impact of his arrest on his world tour. He later performed in Chicago, telling fans, "It’s been a tough week. I know I’m hard to love sometimes but you keep loving me right back." Timberlake is scheduled to perform in New York next week.

The American Hotel, where Timberlake reportedly had dinner and a martini with friends, is a well-known celebrity haunt. A witness at the hotel said Timberlake appeared "wasted" and even consumed another person’s unattended drink.

Sag Harbor police are known for monitoring patrons leaving popular bars and stopping them for traffic violations. Local law enforcement sources mentioned that in the past, bartenders would call in false emergencies to allow patrons to drive home safely.

If convicted, Timberlake could face up to a year in jail, but experts believe he will likely receive a lighter sentence as this is his first offense.