Backstreet Boy Nick Carter Arrested
Backstreet Boy Nick Carter was arrested on suspicion of refusing to follow police officers’ orders to leave a nightclub after a fight broke out. The youngest of the five-member pop group at age 21, Carter was charged Wednesday with a misdemeanor count of resisting/opposing a law enforcement officer without violence. He was handcuffed, placed in a squad car and released on his own recognizance.
In a statement released Thursday, Carter said he did nothing wrong.
“I truly believe my celebrity motivated the officer to arrest me,” he said. I am certain that after a full investigation of the facts my name will be cleared.”
His first court appearance is set for March 4, Tampa Police spokesman Joe Durkin said Thursday.
“Outside of who this defendant is, it’s not that unusual a thing to happen,” Durkin said.
Police were called to the Pop City nightclub early Tuesday evening because of a fight. They returned to the nightclub later in the night to break up another disturbance. While officers made arrests and tried to restore peace, Carter became involved in an argument with a woman, according to the arrest affidavit.
He was told to leave the nightclub more than 10 times until officers told him to leave by “the count of 3” or he would be arrested. Carter continued the argument and was arrested, the affidavit said.
Carter said he was attempting to comply with the officers’ request to leave but was “simply moving too slow.”
Carter, who lives outside Tampa, is the second Backstreet Boy to run into trouble in recent months. In July, A.J. McLean spent time at a rehabilitation center for depression and alcohol abuse, forcing the group to postpone its U.S. and Canadian tour. McLean, who turns 24 next week, has said he’s been sober ever since.
Sonya Muckle, vice president of publicity for Jive Records, the Backstreet Boys’ label, did not return a phone call seeking comment Thursday.