Bruce Springsteen was reportedly arrested in Sandy Hook, New Jersey, when he stopped to take pictures with fans – and then took a tequila photo provided by one of them for children, said a member of the music industry.
The 71-year-old “Born to Run” icon was riding a motorcycle on the peninsula on November 14, when “he was seen by fans asking him to stop and take some pictures,” according to a source close to Springsteen.
“Bruce stopped, took the photos, then a fan offered him a drink of alcohol, which he took while sitting on his bicycle, which was stationary,” the source said.
“Police in the park saw what happened and immediately shot Springsteen as he walked away.”
The station could not immediately verify this account with law enforcement.
Springsteen was charged with DWI, reckless driving and drinking in an enclosed area, a National Park Service spokesman said.
Asbury Park Press reported that Springsteen’s blood alcohol content was 0.02 – just a quarter of New Jersey’s legal limit – when he was arrested.
The legal threshold in New Jersey is .08, which the press said is questioning why Springsteen was accused of drunk driving.
The news about the bust came just days after Springsteen appeared and told a Super Bowl commercial for Jeep, in which he implored the Americans to move to the political “middle” in the spirit of unity, in the middle of the recent bitter division.
The ad has since been taken from the Jeep’s YouTube page.