Justin Bieber Freeway Chase: Paparazzo Faces Criminal Charges

Though Justin Bieber was slapped with a speeding ticket during his July 6 freeway chase, the paparazzi following him is in much bigger trouble. Freelance paparazzo Paul Raef, the alleged ringleader in the chase that resulted in Bieber calling 911, was hit with four criminal charges, reports TMZ.

During the freeway chase in Los Angeles, the 30-year-old photog was driving a Toyota Ray in speeds 80 mph and higher. He was swerving between lanes and even driving on the shoulder so he could keep up with and photograph Bieber, who was driving his chrome Fisker Karma. Motorists had to stop and swerve to get out of the way and avoid a collision with the speeding cars. When police authorities pulled over Bieber, he complied; Raef, however, did not, and fled the scene.

The photog faces four counts: two counts of following another vehicle too closely with the intent to capture photos for commercial gain, plus one count of reckless driving and one count for failing to obey the lawful order of a peace officer. If convinctted, Raef could face a year in county prison and $3,500 in fines. The pop star has also filed a harassment complaint against him.

Bieber’s July 6 chase comes a few months after his May 27 altercation with a paparazzi in Calabases, California, that took place while the singer was leaving a movie theater with his girlfriend, Selena Gomez, and their friends.

The world would be a much safer place if photographers only snapped pics of Bieber when he’s walking around while eating ice cream, no?