The 44-year-old pop star was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol (DUI) in Ventura, Calif., on March 4
Britney Spears was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of a combination of drugs and alcohol (DUI) in Ventura, Calif., PEOPLE can confirm.
According to records from the Ventura Sheriff’s Office, Spears, 44, was placed under arrest on the evening of Wednesday, March 4. She was released early in the morning on Thursday, March 5. The arrest was listed as a “cite and release” with no probation.
A law enforcement source told PEOPLE that Spears’ arrest was on suspicion of a DUI, which the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Moorpark Area later confirmed.
According to a press release issued by Public Information Officer Ryan Ayers Thursday, a “black BMW 430i was reported to the CHP’s Ventura Communications Center for driving erratically at a high rate of speed” and was pulled over. “The solo occupant, Ms. Spears, showed signs of impairment and submitted to a series of field sobriety tests.”
She “was subsequently arrested for a violation of California Vehicle Code section 23152(g), driving under the influence of a combination of drugs and alcohol” and booked.
The CHP says the incident is still under investigation and that chemical test results are pending.
TMZ was the first to report the news.
“She’s very emotional and regretful this morning,” a source tells PEOPLE.
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Spears is due to appear in court for the incident on May 4.
“This was an unfortunate incident that is completely inexcusable,” a representative for Spears tells PEOPLE in a statement. “Britney is going to take the right steps and comply with the law and hopefully this can be the first step in long overdue change that needs to occur in Britney’s life. Hopefully, she can get the help and support she needs during this difficult time.”
The rep adds, “Her boys are going to be spending time with her. Her loved ones are going to come up with an overdue needed plan to set her up for success for well being.”
Spears shares sons Sean Preston, 20, and Jayden James, 19, with her ex-husband, Kevin Federline.
Spears, whose social media videos have garnered a lot of online attention, also seemingly dectivated her Instagram sometime this week.
This arrest comes amid years of highs and lows for the singer. In November 2021 Spears’ 13-year conservatorship was terminated by an L.A. county judge. Last month, PEOPLE confirmed that Spears sold her music catalog. It is unclear how much she was paid for her music.
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Spears has recently been very outspoken about how she feels she was treated by her family, including dad Jamie, 73, mom Lynne, 70, and sister Jamie Lynn, 34. In a February Instagram post, she called out her family, without directly naming anyone.
“For those of you in your family that have said to help you is to isolate you and make you feel unbelievably left out … they were wrong. We can forgive as people but u don’t ever forget,” Spears wrote at the time. “Yearning and longing for contact is always crucial !!!”
Spears added that she believes she is “incredibly lucky to even be alive with how my family treated me once in my life and now I’m scared of them.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
