Video has emerged of pop star Britney Spears speaking frenetically to police on the side of a California highway while she was being arrested in March on suspicion of driving under the influence.
In the video published by celebrity gossip site TMZ, Spears can be heard speaking to police, who ask her to leave her vehicle. She says in the 53-second clip that she is “scared” to leave her car and asks if she can follow the police and go “around the corner” so she does not have to get out on the highway.
The police agree and tell her they can drive her around the corner. Spears declines the offer and then asks police whether they want to visit her home, offering to cook for them and adding that she has a swimming pool.
“No, I don’t want to get in your car, sir,” Spears says in the video, before picking up a more anxious tone. “You can come to my house and I’ll make you food and lasagne – or whatever you want. I have a pool, my babies are coming to my house tonight.”
Spears then becomes more incoherent, and the police officer asks again if she can get out of her vehicle.
Spears pleaded guilty in May through her lawyer to a lesser charge, allowing her to avoid jail time after California prosecutors accused her of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
The 44-year-old pop star’s lawyer, Michael A. Goldstein, pleaded guilty on her behalf to what’s commonly called a “wet reckless”. That allowed her to be sentenced to one day in jail that the judge said she served when she was booked, one year of probation, a required DUI class and state-mandated fines.
“I don’t think anybody’s happy about pleading guilty to anything but, under the circumstances, to get this behind her, I think everybody is pleased with the result,” Goldstein said after the hearing. “We appreciate the district attorney recognising the positive steps that Britney is taking to help herself.”
During the brief hearing Spears received summary probation, which is informal and doesn’t involve mandatory meetings with a probation officer. She temporarily yielded her Fourth Amendment search and seizure rights if she is pulled over, meaning she must automatically yield to searches and sobriety tests. At Goldstein’s request, the judge ruled this would not apply to her home.
Spears has a history of mental health and substance abuse issues and recently completed a stint at a rehabilitation facility.
Goldstein said Spears returned home after completing rehabilitation and that reports that she left early were “absolutely false”. Asked what’s next for her, he replied, “I don’t know, I’m sure a lot.”
Authorities said in the criminal complaint that Spears had alcohol and drugs in her system but they didn’t specify which drugs or list her blood alcohol content.
With AP
Kayla Olaya is a culture reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via email.
