Singer George Michael arrested in drugs probe: source

LONDON (Reuters) – British singer George Michael was
arrested on Sunday on suspicion of possessing drugs after he
was found slumped in a car in central London, a police source
said.

Michael, 42, who has sold more than 80 million records
worldwide during a 25-year career, was arrested in the Hyde
Park area of the capital early on Sunday, the source said.

A London police spokesman would not confirm Michael had
been arrested. He issued a statement saying a 42-year-old man
had been held on suspicion of possessing Class C drugs, a group
in British law which includes cannabis, tranquilizers and some
painkillers.

“We were called by a member of the public to a man seen
slumped over the steering wheel of a car,” the statement said.
“He was arrested on suspicion of possession of controlled
substances.”

He was bailed to return to a police station in late March
pending a police investigation.

Michael’s manager and publicist could not be reached for
comment.

Under British law, anyone convicted of possessing Class C
drugs can be jailed for up to two years and face an unlimited
fine, according to the Interior Ministry’s Web site.

The singer had a string of hits in the 1980s with the band
Wham! before forging a successful solo career with albums such
as “Faith,” “Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1″ and “Patience.”