'Burning rubber' by Christina Aguilera's boyfriend led to pop star's arrest, sheriff's officials say
March 1, 2011 | 10:49 am
Christina Aguilera's boyfriend has been released from custody after being booked on suspicion of drunk driving in a case that also saw the pop star arrested.
Matthew Rutler was swarmed by more than 30 photographers and reporters when he exited the West Hollywood sheriff's station Tuesday morning.
Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies pulled over Rutler's car early Tuesday near Sunset Boulevard and Clark Street on the Sunset Strip after noticing Rutler was squealing his tires, "burning rubber" and speeding, according to Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Whitmore.
Deputies determined Rutler was under the influence of alcohol and arrested him, officials said.
Inside the car, deputies noticed Aguilera, who was described by authorities as being "very intoxicated," according to one source familiar with the case. She was also taken into custody.
Sheriff's Department officials released Aguilera on Tuesday morning after arresting her on suspicion of public drunkenness, and said they don't plan to seek criminal charges against the singer.
Whitmore said the arrest will go on her record but the case will not be forwarded to prosecutors. He said Aguilera was taken into custody for her own safety and that the circumstances don't merit criminal charges.
"There will no court date, and there will be no prosecution," he said.
Deputies decided that Aguilera would not be able to drive safely on her own and, using a provision of the law that allows them to hold individuals in protective custody, took her to the sheriff's station and booked her on a misdemeanor, the source familiar with the case said.Matthew Rutler was swarmed by more than 30 photographers and reporters when he exited the West Hollywood sheriff's station Tuesday morning.
Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies pulled over Rutler's car early Tuesday near Sunset Boulevard and Clark Street on the Sunset Strip after noticing Rutler was squealing his tires, "burning rubber" and speeding, according to Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Whitmore.
Deputies determined Rutler was under the influence of alcohol and arrested him, officials said.
Inside the car, deputies noticed Aguilera, who was described by authorities as being "very intoxicated," according to one source familiar with the case. She was also taken into custody.
Sheriff's Department officials released Aguilera on Tuesday morning after arresting her on suspicion of public drunkenness, and said they don't plan to seek criminal charges against the singer.
Whitmore said the arrest will go on her record but the case will not be forwarded to prosecutors. He said Aguilera was taken into custody for her own safety and that the circumstances don't merit criminal charges.
"There will no court date, and there will be no prosecution," he said.
Officials said the law allows them to keep an individual in custody for safety reasons.
Aguilera made headlines at the Super Bowl for forgetting some words for the national anthem. She later issued an apology: "I got so caught up in the moment of the song that I lost my place. I can only hope that everyone could feel my love for this country and that the true spirit of its anthem still came through."
She starred opposite Cher in last year's movie "Burlesque." Rutler was a production assistant on the movie.
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-- Andrew Blankstein
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