Rio police probe Justin Bieber over wall ‘vandalism’

In this Oct. 24, 2013, file photo, Justin Bieber performs during his “Believe” world tour in Panama City. The website of Brazil’s biggest news outlet has published photos apparently showing pop star Justin Bieber spray painting graffiti on a wall and says police want to question him. Defacing buildings is a crime in Brazil punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine. AP

RIO DE JANEIRO—Canadian teen idol Justin Bieber, currently on a Brazil concert tour, is under police investigation in Rio for alleged unauthorized wall tagging.

A police statement sent to AFP Wednesday said a probe had been launched to determine whether the 19-year-old pop star had received permission from City Hall to tag the wall of a disused hotel in Rio’s tourist southern zone as claimed by his entourage.

Late Tuesday, protected by his security detail, Bieber tagged “Respect privacy” and “I am off” as well as several drawings on the hotel wall while nearby Brazilian police officers did not stop him.

The daily O Dia reported that Bieber’s bodyguards threatened paparazzi who photographed the scene and that one of their cars was hit by a stone.

Since his arrival Friday after a stop in Sao Paulo, Bieber, who gave a concert here Sunday, has grabbed media attention with a series of peccadilloes.

He was photographed emerging under a blanket from a notorious Rio brothel and later vainly tried to bring prostitutes into the posh Copacabana Palace.

Furious that he was not able to do so, the teen sensation reportedly went on a rampage in his suite, breaking various objects valued at nearly $6,000 in total.

Bieber and his entourage were subsequently kicked out of the hotel, local press reports said.

Bieber, who is on the Brazilian leg of his world tour to promote his Believe album, was due to leave Rio for Paraguay late Wednesday.

 Originally posted at 7:45 a.m. | November 7, 2013