The U.S. Department of the Interior is withholding 24 pages of documents related to Bruce Springsteen's arrest on DWI charges, accordi...
The U.S. Department of the Interior is withholding 24 pages of documents related to Bruce Springsteen's arrest on DWI charges, according to an entertainment blogger.
Springsteen, 71, was arrested on November 14 at the Gateway National Recreation Area in Sandy Hook, New Jersey, but his arrest was only made public earlier this month.
Because he was arrested by a park ranger on federal land, the charges are federal and will be prosecuted at the obscure 'enclave court' in Newark, which has been described as the 'night court' of the federal system for handling minor charges.
Although key details of Springsteen's arrest report have been made public, ShowBiz411 writer Roger Friedman wrote that the Interior Department denied his Freedom of Information Act request about the case.
'We are withholding 24 pages of records due to the case is still pending trial,' the department told Friedman, citing exemptions protecting personal privacy and medical files.
Springsteen, 71, was arrested on November 14 at the Gateway National Recreation Area in Sandy Hook, New Jersey. He is seen performing at Biden's inauguration
A motorcycle enthusiast, Springsteen (seen at a charity auction) reportedly pulled over on his motorcycle to take a picture with fans and accepted a tequila shot from one of them
Friedman implied in his column that the government could be hiding some key evidence that would exonerate Springsteen, writing: 'What is the government hiding about Bruce Springsteen's arrest? And whatever it is, could it help his case?'
An Interior Department spokesperson did not immediately respond to an inquiry from DailyMail.com on Saturday.
Key portions of Springsteen's arrest report have already been made public by other outlets, including the statement of probable cause from park ranger R. L. Hayes.
The incident reportedly unfolded after the Thunder Road singer pulled over on his motorcycle to take a picture with fans and accepted a tequila shot from one of them in full view of watching police.
'Springsteen refused to take a preliminary breath test (PBT), despite signs of intoxication namely after testing his gaze and walk and turn tests,' Hayes wrote in the report, according to Fox News.
Hayes further claimed that the rock icon 'smelt strongly of alcohol', had 'glassy eyes', and was 'visibly swaying' back and forth.
Springsteen also allegedly admitted that he'd consumed 'two shots of tequila in the last 20 minutes', the park ranger claimed.
His blood alcohol level was later tested by police and found to be 0.02 - a quarter of New Jersey's legal limit of 0.08, according to the Asbury Park Press. However it's currently unclear how long after his initial interaction with Hayes that Springsteen was tested.
In a statement to CNN, a source said to be close to Springsteen called into question the 'seriousness' of the star's arrest.
'When this is all resolved, I think, people are gonna have some serious doubts about the seriousness of this, especially when the actual details of this are revealed, including the blood alcohol level,' the anonymous source told the network.
'I don't know why they stopped him,' they continued. 'I mean technically you're not allowed to drink in a state park and I don't know, maybe, if a policeman sees somebody drinking and doesn't give them a ticket, they lose their job.
'Any kind of alcohol related driving thing is serious,' the source added.
According to the report, the arrest took place near the lighthouse (shown above) in the Gateway National Recreation Area on Sandy Hook back on November 14, 2020
In his report, Hayes wrote that he had witnessed Springsteen 'consume a shot of Patron tequila' before getting on his motorcycle to 'start the engine'.
Hayes said he then informed the New Jersey-native that drinking inside Gateway National Recreation Area is 'prohibited'.
'The Patron bottle that the shot was poured out of was completely empty (750ml),' the ranger continued, as reported by Fox. 'I asked Springsteen if he was leaving and he confirmed that he was going to drive out of the park.'
The ranger also said he 'observed four out of six clues on the horizontal gaze nystagmus test.'
'[Springsteen] was visibly swaying back and forth while I observed his eyes,' Hayes wrote.
'I observed five out of eight clues on the walk and turn test. Springsteen took 45 total steps during the walk and turn instead of the instructed 19. [He] refused to provide a sample on the preliminary breath test.'
According to Hayes' report, Springsteen was detained near the lighthouse in the park.
News of Springsteen's arrest comes days after 96.4million viewers watched him star in an ad for Jeep during the Super Bowl (pictured)
Springsteen's arrest came to light just days after 96.4million viewers watched Springsteen star in an ad for Jeep during the Super Bowl on February 7.
Because the arrest took place on federal land, the case will be handled by the US Attorney's Office in Newark and heard in a federal court.
But the case will appear in what is known as 'enclave court,' which handles low-level offenses like speeding, traffic violations or DWI when they have been committed in a federal enclave.
Springsteen is charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and drinking in a closed area.
Experts expect him to plead not guilty and contest the charges, pointing out that field sobriety tests are unreliable for people over 70, and that his blood-alcohol level was reportedly below the legal limit.
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