Kamis 30 Jan 2014 14:48 WIB

Justin Bieber turns himself into Toronto police on assault charge

Foto: AP/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette

Canadian musician Justin Bieber is swarmed by media and police officers as he turns himself in to city police for an expected assault charge, in Toronto, on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014.

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, TORONTO - Justin Bieber was charged with assault for allegedly hitting a Toronto limousine driver several times in the back of the head last month, just hours after his attorney entered a separate not guilty plea in Florida to drunken-driving and other charges. Brian Greenspan, Bieber's Canadian attorney, did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

The baby-faced 19-year-old turned himself in to a Toronto police station Wednesday evening, arriving amid a crush of media and screaming fans. He was charged with one count of assault and is scheduled to appear in court in Toronto on March 10.

Police allege Bieber was one of six people who were picked up by a limousine from a nightclub in the early morning hours of Dec. 30, and there was an altercation while en route to a hotel. Police said during the altercation one of the passengers hit the limo driver in the back of the head several times.

"The driver stopped the limousine, exited the vehicle and called police," a statement said. "The man who struck him left the scene before police arrived."

Howard Weitzman, Bieber's attorney in California, said his client was innocent and declined to comment on the allegations against Bieber or any potential defense, saying it was now a matter for the court to handle. Weitzman said he expected the case to be treated as a summary offense.

"The Toronto Police Service requested that Justin Bieber appear in Toronto today to face an allegation of assault relating to an incident on December 29, 2013. We anticipate that this matter will be treated as a summary offense, the equivalent of a misdemeanor in the United States," he said in a statement.

Toronto police said in late December they were looking into allegations that a member of Bieber's entourage assaulted a limo driver who was ferrying the Canadian pop star and several others. Police said at the time it was unclear whether Bieber was involved. Bieber emerged from a black SUV wearing a winter coat and a backwards ball cap before being led through a throng of police and reporters. Many waited for his arrival for more than an hour in freezing temperatures. He spent about an hour and a half in the police station before leaving through a back exit.

It was yet another sign of the crazy lifestyle that has taken over Bieber's image.

Earlier on Wednesday, Bieber pleaded not guilty in Florida to charges of driving under the influence after driving nearly twice the speed limit on a Miami Beach street. He also pleaded not guilty to resisting arrest and driving with an expired license.