Pop singer Justin Bieber had his house raided on Tuesday as police were investigating a complaint of vandalism at his neighbor’s house in Calabasas, California.
Police found what they believed initially to be cocaine, but later believed was Xanax or Ecstasy. In the process, the police arrested Lil Za a singer friend of Bieber’s on drug possession.
The Sheriff’s Department of Los Angeles County said the drugs were Xavier Smith’s, aka Lil Za, who is 20. He was taken from Bieber’s house in handcuffs and charged with a felony.
While Smith was waiting to post $20,000 bail, police hit him with another felony vandalism charge as he damaged a phone while in lock-up, said a spokesperson for the sheriff’s department. After the incident, police raised the rapper’s bail to $75,000.
Bieber was one of 7 to 8 people in the house early Tuesday during the search related to egg throwing at a neighbor’s home.
Authorities said Bieber did not have any connection with the cocaine that was found by police, a sheriff’s department spokesperson confirmed.
Following law enforcement’s news conference regarding the search of Bieber’s home and subsequent arrest of Smith, officials said the drug was thought to be Ecstasy or Xanax and not cocaine.
Nevertheless, Smith could spend up to 3 years behind bars if he is tried and convicted of felony cocaine possession. However, possession of Ecstasy only carries a maximum sentence of less than one year.
Bieber, who is 19, is being investigated after his neighbor alleged someone from the Bieber house threw raw eggs at his home last Thursday.
A video of the incident that was leaked to the press seems to have a voice in the background similar to Bieber’s
Bieber was not questioned and did not give a statement about the alleged vandalism while his house was searched.
Jeffrey Schwartz his irate neighbor claims he witnessed Bieber from his balcony on the second floor. Schwartz called the police following the incident, said Bieber had thrown 20 eggs or more and caused over $20,000 in damages to his wood and plaster exterior.
This is not the first run-in Bieber has had with Schwartz. In another incident, Schwartz claims Bieber spit in his face.
