Detectives seek witnesses to Justin Bieber mall incident

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department detectives are seeing to talk to both pop star Justin Bieber and any witnesses at a Calabasas shopping mall after the singer got into a scuffle with a photographer there.

Law enforcement sources said they want to get Bieber's side of the Sunday altercation but also are still trying to piece together exactly what happened. The incident occurred in a public area, so officials said they hope there are witnesses who saw what happened.

Detectives were investigating claims by the photographer that Bieber struck him after he snapped photographs of the singer and girlfriend Selena Gomez at the Commons at Calabasas Shopping Center. 

The photographer complained of pain and was taken by the Los Angeles County Fire Department to a hospital, where he was treated and released, officials said.

The sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing, stressed that the probe was in its early stages.

A spokesperson for Bieber did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact detectives at (818) 878-1808. Anonymous tipsters may contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477).

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Photo: Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber arrive at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles in November 2011. Credit: Valerie Macon / AFP/Getty Images