This is not the kind of headline anyone wants to wake up to about Britney Spears.
As we’ve been reporting, the pop superstar was arrested Wednesday night in Southern California after authorities say she was driving erratically on a freeway there. And the allegations surrounding the incident are even more troubling than many fans first realized, as more new information now comes to light.
Related: Cops Were Called To Britney’s Home 14 Different Times In The Last Two 2 Years — Details
So, as we’ve been reporting and according to new details published by TMZ on Thursday afternoon, law enforcement sources say the situation unfolded at approximately 8:48 p.m., when the California Highway Patrol received reports about a black BMW 430i speeding southbound on Interstate 101 while driving in an erratic manner. Officers eventually located the vehicle and followed it until the driver exited the freeway at Westlake Boulevard in the city of Thousand Oaks.
When the car finally pulled over, officers identified the driver as the 44-year-old singer. According to CHP, Spears showed signs of impairment during the encounter. Officers conducted a series of field sobriety tests on the scene. After those tests, she was placed under arrest.
But here’s the HUGE kicker here: authorities now allege the arrest was for driving under the influence of alcohol AND drugs. The California Highway Patrol flat-out told TMZ that Spears was taken into custody for “driving under the influence of a combination of drugs and alcohol.”
Remember, a source previously indicated drugs may have been at the scene — so to hear it so starkly now is just awful, and also a really significant confirmation of what insiders were previously suggesting.
Ugh.
Spears was then transported to Ventura County Jail, where she was booked. Jail records indicate she remained in custody overnight before being released early Thursday morning, around 6 a.m.
Related: Britney’s Inner Circle Hoping A Judge Will Order Her To Do THIS Instead Of Jail Time
At this point, the case is still developing. Officials say the incident remains under investigation and chemical tests have been administered, though the results of those tests are still pending.
Spears is currently scheduled to appear in court on May 4, when the next phase of this case will begin to unfold. Until then, questions remain about what exactly happened on that stretch of the 101 Wednesday night. We sincerely hope things turn out well…
If you or someone you know is experiencing substance abuse, help is available. Consider checking out the resources SAMHSA provides at https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline or check out StartYourRecovery.org.
[Image via MEGA/WENN]
