Detectives were conducting interviews Wednesday in connection with an LAPD robbery investigation into pop star Justin Bieber, police announced.
Bieber had been at the batting cages at a “family entertainment center” in the 4900 block of North Sepulveda Boulevard at 10:30 p.m. Monday, when an “incident occurred between an individual” and the singer, the Los Angeles Police Department stated in a news release Wednesday morning.
The address given is near Sherman Oaks Castle Park, a city facility that includes batting cages, miniature golf and an arcade.
Bieber was accused of attempted robbery by someone in the San Fernando Valley, an LAPD spokeswoman had said on Tuesday night. Devonshire Division officers had been called because Bieber had tried to take a girl’s cellphone, LAPD Sgt. Paul McLaughlin had said Tuesday.
The LAPD news release issued Wednesday morning did not refer to a cellphone or give details about the incident that led to the investigation.
“The case remains under investigation with detectives conducting numerous interviews,” the release stated.
A source “close to Bieber” played down the incident to CNN.
“Justin was just enjoying hanging out with friends at the batting cage and playing mini-golf,” the source told CNN. “This just wasn’t a big deal.”
“There were plenty of people taking pictures, some more aggressive than others,” the source said. “This is another example of someone making an issue where there isn’t one.”
The incident was being investigated by the LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division’s Robbery Special Section. An LAPD spokeswoman had said Tuesday that high-profile cases are sometimes taken over by the division.
