Bruce Springsteen tried to act like “The Boss” during his arrest at DWI – allegedly refusing to take a breathalyzer, although he smelled like alcohol, looked drunk and had just spilled the last dose of a bottle of Patron, according to sources and a police report.
The striking new details surfaced at Springsteen Prison on November 14 at the Gateway National Recreation Area in Sandy Hook, New Jersey, when the “Glory Days” singer was reportedly seen by a park official taking a shot of tequila with fans.
“The incident escalated because, as soon as the officer approached Bruce on his motorcycle, he refused to take a breathalyzer test,” said a source close to Springsteen. “The policeman was pissed, arrested Bruce and forced him to do blood tests.”
Springsteen also admitted to the ranger, RL Hayes, that he drank two shots of tequila before trying to leave the picturesque federal park on his motorcycle.
Hayes wrote in a statement of probable cause that he was on foot patrol when he saw the 71-year-old rock legend dropping a dose of Patron before getting on his bike and “starting the engine”.
“The bottle of Patron from which the dose was spilled was completely empty (750ml),” wrote the ranger in the statement. “I asked Springsteen if he was leaving and he confirmed that he was going to drive out of the park.”
The ranger said he warned Springsteen – who was close to the park’s historic lighthouse – that drinking on the park grounds “is prohibited”.
He said in the report that the New Jersey native “smelled strongly of alcohol coming out of him and had glassy eyes” – and refused to take a breathalyzer “despite signs of intoxication”.
Springsteen reportedly “claimed to have taken two shots of tequila in the last 20 minutes.”
The statement also included details of Springsteen’s alleged failed sobriety test.
Hayes said he “observed four of the six clues in the horizontal look nystagmus test”.
He wrote that Springsteen was “visibly rocking back and forth while I watched his eyes”.
“I observed five of the eight tracks in the walk and turn test,” noted the ranger. “Springsteen took 45 steps in total during the walk and turn instead of the 19 instructed. [He] refused to provide a sample in the preliminary breath test. “
The “Born to Run” singer was apparently taken for blood tests, with his blood alcohol content scoring 0.02 – below New Jersey’s legal limit while driving at 0.08, Asbury Park Press reported.
A source told Page Six on Wednesday night that the musician was riding a motorcycle when he was spotted by fans who adored him “who asked him to stop and take some pictures”.
“Bruce stopped, took the pictures, then a fan offered him a drink, which he took while sitting on his bicycle, which was stopped,” said the source.
Springsteen is accused of DWI, driving recklessly and drinking alcohol in an enclosed area.
He is due to attend a virtual audience later this month.
A registrar for Judge Anthony Mautone, who will oversee the case in the federal enclave court, declined to provide documents to The Post.
When news of Springsteen’s arrest surfaced, Jeep pulled out a Super Bowl ad with the star, saying it was “certain to pause our Big Game commercial until the real facts could be established. His message of community and unity is as relevant as ever. Just like the message that drinking and driving can never be forgiven. “
Additional reporting by Lia Eustachewich and Craig McCarthy