The 19-year-old posted bail of $2,500 (£1,500), after a brief court appearance, where he was accused of driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs.
Police said the star had been racing a sports car on a Miami Beach street. He was also charged with resisting arrest and having an expired driving licence.
Bieber waved to fans as he left jail.
Escorted by officials and his personal entourage, he climbed on to the roof of a sports utility vehicle to greet his supporters, many of whom were in tears, before being driven away.
At the bail hearing, the Canadian star stood silently, dressed in an orange prison uniform, as he heard the charges against him.
Hours earlier, according to police reports, he and a friend were drag racing on a residential Miami street, in a yellow Lamborghini and a red Ferrari while a pair of SUVs blocked traffic.
Miami-Dade Police estimated they were driving at 55mph in a 30mph zone - flanked by apartment buildings, a high school, a youth centre and a golf course.
Miami Beach's police chief, Raymond Martinez, said Bieber initially refused to co-operate with officers and was "a little belligerent, using some choice words".
During the investigation, the singer "made statements that he had consumed some alcohol, that he had been smoking marijuana and consumed some prescription medication," Mr Martinez continued.
The arrest report said the singer "had slow deliberate movements" and a look of "stupor" when an officer told him to step out of the Lamborghini.
The driver of the second car, R&B singer Khalil Sharieff, was also arrested and both cars impounded.
On the ride to the police station, Bieber was informed that he was suspected of driving while under the influence. The singer said he was not drunk and had been recording music.
His bail was posted by manager Scott Braun, who earlier tweeted the star, saying: "[I] love you and I will act in the manner of someone who truly cares."
He later added: "Been a long day. Bottom line is we are defined by how we handle adversity."
Bieber is the highest-paid teenager in the world of entertainment, worth $58m (£35m) according to Forbes magazine.
He built his career on a squeaky-clean image and lightweight pop songs, but has recently been trying to court an older audience.
Jennifer Peros, from American entertainment magazine US Weekly, said the arrest could be costly.
"Justin makes most of his money from people who are younger than him, who look up to him and see him as this clean-cut guy," she told the BBC.
"Now that he's getting arrested and put in jail, I think he's going to lose a lot of his fanbase - as well as parents who are going to say 'I don't want my kids buying his merchandise'."
0 comments: