The manager of teen heartthrob Justin Beiber turned himself into police on Wednesday to face charges that he was responsible for causing a riot by not distributing news fast enough through Twitter that the singer would miss a scheduled appearance at the Roosevelt Field Mall in Long Island in November. According to The Associated Press, some of the more than 3,000 fans who showed up for an autograph refused to leave and became rowdy. In all, five people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
Scott “Scooter” Braun, 28, faces up to one year in jail if convicted of charges of reckless endangerment, criminal nuisance and endangering the welfare of a child. Nassau County police say that Braun contributed to the unruly scene by sending out a Tweet from Beiber’s account stating “On my way to Roosevelt Field Mall in Long Island, NY to sign and meet fans! I’m pumped. See u there.”
James Roppo, a senior vice president at Beiber’s label Island Def Jam, was also arrested in connection with the botched appearance. Police had asked both he and Braun to send out a Twitter message informing the crowd that the event was canceled, but authorities say no message was sent.
“My mother and I are 100 percent behind my manager,” the 16-year-old singing sensation said in a statement released to The Associated Press on Wednesday night. “He is someone of high moral character and principle. The decisions he made that day were to protect the safety of myself and my fans and I am very thankful to have someone in my life who watches over me the way Scooter does.”