Justin Timberlake’s arrest last week for driving while intoxicated followed an anonymous tip from within the hotel where he was staying, new reports say.

The “Cry Me A River” singer was arrested on Tuesday (17 June) at 12:17am in the wealthy Hamptons enclave of Sag Harbor, Long Island. He was staying at the American Hotel in the area, renowned as a popular destination for celebrities in the summer months.

The 10-time Grammy winner, 43, claimed to have consumed just “one martini”, according to a complaint obtained by The New York Post. He broke his silence at a concert last week after his arrest made worldwide news, saying it had been a “tough week”.

But now new reports suggest that the arrest may not have been completely random or routine, and that Timberlake’s police stop may have been the result of an anonymous tip-off to the authorities from someone close to him around the time he was allegedly drinking.

“[They] said Justin was having a lot of drinks, and they told the cop to watch him if he is going to drive,” a Southampton restaurateur, who did not want to be identified, told The New York Post.

He did not specify as to how the alleged caller was linked to Timberlake.

The local businessman said he believes that the pop star was “mistreated”, adding: “[He was] definitely treated unfairly.”

“Everyone drives through that stop sign when no one is there,” the source added, saying that the star was a “Hamptons regular” who has frequented his establishments “many times” over the years.

“He was always a gentleman,” the restaurateur said. “People always recognise him, and they ask him for a picture, and he always says yes. He has the hat pulled down and the sunglasses, so it’s hard to recognise him, but some people do.

“He’s not like Leonardo [DiCaprio]. Leo does not like to be recognised, and he will even curse. He does not take pictures, especially if he is with a bunch of models.”

The source also doubted the claim that officer Michael Arkinson did not know who Timberlake was when he arrested him, as he was too young.

A tip-off from within the American Hotel led to the singer’s arrest (Google Maps)© Provided by The Independent

“If you live in America, you know who Justin Timberlake is,” the source said. “The cop did his job, but he definitely knew who Justin was.”

However, the post reports that another local businessman, Mark Zucchero, 54, who owns Flying Point Surf and Sport, said the officer was known locally as a “diligent” policeman.

“[The cop is] definitely not a bad guy. He’s diligent, he does a good job. He just didn’t know who Justin Timberlake was! That’s all, pretty simple.”

The Independent has contacted the Sag Harbor Police Department and representatives for Justin Timberlake for comment.

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Alocal restaurant owner has revealed that an anonymous individual informed cops that Justin Timberlake had been drinking multiple cocktails on the night of his DWI arrest.

The tipster, who had allegedly watched the singer drink while at the upscale Hamptons hotel, was reportedly concerned that he would pose a road risk if he drove himself.

Following his arrest, Timberlake was charged with one count of DWI and released without bail.

In the days ahead, Justin Timberlake is scheduled to perform at Madison Square Garden in New York City as part of his ongoing tour.

An Anonymous Person Told Cops To Watch If Justin Timberlake Would Drive Himself

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Speaking with the New York Post, a local businessman claimed that someone gave the cops a heads-up about Timberlake being intoxicated prior to the singer’s DWI arrest.

“[They] said Justin was having a lot of drinks, and they told the cop to watch him if he is going to drive,” the restaurateur told the outlet.

If true, the information might have led a young cop to issue a warning to Timberlake minutes after he exited the hotel and drove off in his car.

Reports have confirmed that after the warning, the singer opted to continue driving and not call for an Uber. He was later arrested after blowing past a stop sign and swerving recklessly between lanes.

It is unclear who called the cops on Timberlake, but it could have been a hotel staff member, a patron who saw him, or someone he partied with that night.

Justin Timberlake Was ‘Treated Unfairly’ During Arrest, Says Local Restaurateur

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On the night of his arrest, Timberlake was asked to take a field sobriety test, which he failed. He was also asked three times to take a breathalyzer test to confirm blood alcohol levels, but the singer refused to oblige each time.

However, according to the restaurateur source, the singer was “definitely treated unfairly” on the night of the arrest and should not have been arrested for blowing past the stop sign.

Related video: Eyewitness Claims Justin Timberlake Was Getting Crunk Before DWI Arrest (Dailymotion)

“Everyone drives through that stop sign when no one is there,” he said before adding that the father of two was never snobbish when he ever visited the Hamptons or other establishments within the location.

“He was always a gentleman,” the restaurateur continued. “People always recognize him, and they ask him for a picture, and he always says yes. He has the hat pulled down and the sunglasses, so it’s hard to recognize him, but some people do.”

Gayle King Defends The Singer After His DWI Arrest

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After Timberlake’s shocking DWI arrest, the singer was faced with ridicule online, with several branding his behavior “reckless” and “irresponsible.”

However, prominent journalist Gayle King spoke out in his defense, noting that he only made a “mistake” and is a “really great guy.”

“Justin Timberlake is a really, really great guy,” King began on Wednesday’s episode of CBS Morning. “Listen, this is clearly a mistake — I bet nobody knows it more than he.”

When co-host Nate Burleson noted that it was a “stupid mistake,” King agreed, asserting that Timberlake “knows that.”

She said, “He’s not an irresponsible person, he’s not reckless, he’s not careless. Clearly, this is not a good thing, but he knows that.”

Justin Timberlake Recently Broke His Silence On His Arrest

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The next day after his arrest, Timberlake was released without bail, but not before being charged to court on one count of DWI.

The “Mirrors” crooner was also slammed with a citation for not observing a stop sign and for failing to stay in his lane while driving. He is expected to appear in court on July 26 for the charge hearing.

While the singer was reportedly worried that his arrest might mess up his ongoing “The Forget Tomorrow World Tour,” he ended up being able to meet up with his scheduled shows at Chicago’s United Center later that week.

There, he broke his silence about the incident, telling the large crowd that he had “a tough week.”

“I know I’m hard to love sometimes, but you keep loving me right back,” the “Cry Me a River” crooner added amid loud cheers from excited fans.

Justin Timberlake’s Ongoing World Tour

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Timberlake is scheduled to appear next at the Madison Square Garden in New York City for two nights. His tour then heads to Boston, Baltimore, and Hershey and concludes its first leg in Lexington, Kentucky.

The former NYSNC star will then take a brief hiatus before returning to kickstart the European leg in Krakow, Poland. Cities across Germany, Belgium, England, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, and France will also get a taste of “The Forget Tomorrow World Tour.”

The tour celebrates the release of Timberlake’s sixth solo album, Everything I Thought It Was, which dropped in March. The album features songs like “Selfish” and “Drown,” as well as the NSYNC collaboration “Paradise.”

It also marks the singer’s return to touring after a five-year hiatus since his last road trip for the fifth studio album, “Man of the Woods.”