Justin Bieber pot-smoking claim is news to police

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Photos of Justin Bieber appearing to smoke marijuana at a Newport Beach party have made their way all over Internet gossip sites.

But they apparently have not found their way to the Newport Beach Police Department. Officials there said Tuesday night they were unaware of the photos.

Sgt. Mike James didn’t say whether the department was planning to investigate, acknowledging that before being contacted by Times Community News he hadn’t heard anything about it.

In the photo, said to be taken Jan. 2 at a Newport Beach hotel room party, Bieber is holding what appears to be a marijuana cigarette while sitting with fellow partiers and a couple of empty beer bottles.

The incident comes two weeks after a photographer who was trying to snap a picture of Bieber’s Ferrari on the 405 Freeway was struck and killed by a passing car.

In the aftermath, Bieber called for new anti-paparazzi measures. Some have cheered Bieber’s call for more laws, but others believe it would be a waste of time.

No legislators have stepped forward yet to propose any new laws.

‘Hopefully this tragedy will finally inspire meaningful legislation and whatever other necessary steps to protect the lives and safety of celebrities, police officers, innocent public bystanders and the photographers themselves,’ Bieber wrote in a statement.

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-- Jeremiah Dobruck, Times Community News