Pop Star Justin Bieber Investigated for Possible Misdemeanor Battery After Alleged Paparazzi Scuffle

Justin Bieber is a pop phenomenon, but following some alleged Sunday shenanigans, the teen heartthrob may also be the focus of a police investigation. Los Angeles County sheriff's detectives were looking into claims that the 18-year-old performer assaulted a photographer. The Times has more:

Pop star Justin Bieber was under investigation Sunday for possible misdemeanor battery against a photographer, authorities said.

Los Angeles County sheriff's detectives were investigating claims by a photographer that Bieber struck him after he snapped photographs of the singer and his girlfriend, actress Selena Gomez, at the Commons at Calabasas Shopping Center.

The photographer complained of pain and was taken by the Los Angeles County Fire Department to a hospital, where he was treated and released.

TMZ is reporting that sources who were present at the scene of the alleged altercation claim that a lawyer approached the photographer and told him he could get a large sum of money if he called an ambulance and filed a police report. Regardless of whether this detail is accurate, the photographer did end up calling authorities and filing a report.

These same witnesses also claim that the incident unfolded after the paparazzo blocked the singer's car. When Bieber got out and asked the man to move and he refused, the drama commenced.

When authorities arrived at the scene, Bieber and his singer-actress girlfriend, Selena Gomez, had apparently already left. In a police report, the photographer named Bieber as the assailant and complained of pain in his upper torso. He was released from the hospital shortly after arriving for examination.

The Daily Mail claims that the incident took place as Bieber and Gomez were preparing to go on a movie date. In a series of pictures that were purportedly taken before and after the incident, Bieber can be seen looking angry and frustrated by the events that unfolded (view the alleged images here).