Singer and songwriter Bruno Mars was arrested—discovered right before closing at 1:50 a.m. by security in the hotel bathroom of Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, with some coke. Unfortunately Bruno Mars has taken a similar legal path to Paris Hilton, whom recently headed down the Felony zone in the no-tolerance state. The Mars charge is “Felony Possession” of 2.6 grams of a "white powdery substance”—and that substance ain’t baking soda.
Singer and songwriter Bruno Mars was arrested on suspicion of cocaine narcotics possession at the Hard Rock. Unfortunately for Mars, the ‘Suspicion’ portion seems to have been dropped—police testing confirming the substance to indeed be cocaine. The update for Mars is that he’s scheduled for a November 18 appearance, regarding the felony possession, during one of the highest points of the artist’s singing career. Mars is currently topping charts and scheduled for October tours in both the U.S. and UK.
Bruno Mars, whose real name is Peter Hernandez, was eventually arrested by police less than an hour later, at about 2:40 a.m. in Vegas—and following an onstage performance by the singer at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino's “Wasted Space” nightclub. If convicted on the felony cocaine charges, Mars/Hernandez faces up to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Time for a good attorney.
Singer-Songwriter Bruno Mars/Hernandez is known for song hooks on B.o.B's "Nothin' on You", Travie McCoy's "Billionaire”, co-wrote and produced Cee-Lo Green's latest expletive-laden single and has performed with rising singer and artist K’Naan during his recent U.S. tour.
Bruno Mars’ new single "Just The Way You Are" is currently #1 on the Billboard Hot Digital Tracks--#6 on the Hot 100. Mars' debut album, 'Doo-Wops & Hooligans,' has just been released October 5, 2010. Mars is slated to open for band Maroon 5 on the group’s Hands All Over Tour which begins October 6, 2010. Bruno Mars will additionally co-headline with Travie McCoy on a UK tour which begins October 18, 2010.
Elektra Records—Bruno Mars’ record label--released a brief statement and nicest possible press statement, Elektra stating: "We congratulate Bruno Mars on his chart-topping success, and provide him with our full love and support.” That little bonus of “love” would probably be attributed to Bruno Mars’ current cash flow—while being at the top of charts.
So, the Clark County DA’s office in Nevada has filed a criminal complaint against Mars, alleging the rising singer-songwriter had possession of 2.6 grams of cocaine when arrested--after being detained by a the Hard Rock’s hotel security guard.
After the show where Bruno Mars performed at the Hard Rock’s “Wasted Space” club, the hotel’s bathroom attendant told police that Hernandez had been taking too long time in one of the hotel’s mens’ room stalls. Report is that Mars was in possession of a bag of a white, powdered substance in the bathroom according to the Las Vegas arrest report. Apparently the mens’ room bathroom attendant alerted a hotel security guard after his ‘sighting’ of Hernandez, the Hard Rock security guard in turn confronting Hernandez as the singer was leaving the stall.
The Hard Rock Hotel security guard says he asked Hernandez to hand over any narcotics he had--the result being that Mars/Hernandez actually removed a bag of cocaine (which allegedly contained at least 2.6 grams) from his left-front jeans pocket and supposedly handed it over. That’s per the arrest report—so obviously security then contacted police.
Really, Hard Rock? You arrest one of your own performers at a club aptly-titled “Wasted Space”?—because, as the world knows, drugs and musicians certainly don’t mix. Tacky beyond tacky. There’s a reason for toilets. And a reason to protect your own.
Apparently Mars/Hernandez would’ve been better off throwing any baggy on the floor rather than handing it over to Hard Rock security—because that didn’t seem to get him too far. Honesty, the best policy, seems questionable after how Hard Rock handled the situation. Discard would’ve at least raised question as to possession—which still seems to be a question for attorneys, since the bag of coke obviously wasn’t in possession of Hernandez by the time police arrived. Interestingly, an under the influence charge appears absent in the Mars arrest. Thank God for small favors.
And, well—Bruno Mars handing over any baggy of coke might not have done him the worst disservice in the world--after all, there may have been closer to 5 grams of coke in that baggy before police actually arrived.
Mars/Hernandez was taken to a holding cell, where he was questioned by an arresting officer. When asked what was going on, Hernandez replied: "Can I speak to you honestly, sir?" Mars allegedly told Vegas police that he “acted foolishly and had never used drugs before,” according to the Nevada arrest report.
Well, Mr. Hernandez, apparently you’ve never been arrested before on drug charges—it’s called “keep your mouth shut” time--or at least that’s what you’re supposed to do. “honesty”. Note to self, Mr. Hernandez: you may be talented as a singer however apparently lacking in the common sense department—in the eyes of police, “never used drugs BEFORE” equals ‘I HAVE used drugs NOW’.
Ironically, Hard Rock Hotel recently released a statement that its Rehab club has negatively affected its “image”—read up on the Hard Rock’s owner’s view of the Rehab club and related reality tv show, via the attached link.
As it turns out, there’s a lawsuit going on: Lawyers for Hard Rock Cafe International Inc. claim in the suit that the cable reality show "Rehab: Party at the Hard Rock Hotel" on truTV casts its Hard Rock “brand” in a bad light.
Hmmm…interesting. Consider this, Hard Rock: if you think your own “Rehab” has tarnished any image, just imagine what arresting one of your own performers after a concert, in Vegas of all places, is going to do to that shiny rep.