Who is Michael Arkinson? Police officer who arrested Justin Timberlake for DWI named Officer of the Year

On June 17, 2024, pop music icon Justin Timberlake was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Michael Arkinson, the Sag Harbor Police Department responsible for making the arrest, cited Timberlake’s “failing to stop at a duly posted stop sign and failing to maintain his lane of travel” as the reason for his intervention.

Per a recent report from TMZ, the officer in question, Mark Arkinson, was recognised for his diligent work and named policeman of the year by Chief Rob Drake in a recent ceremony. The Sag Harbor officer earned the accolade for having “an immediate impact within the department and the community.”

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Who is Michael Arkinson?

Michael Arkinson, the arresting officer in question, is a Long Island native and only 24 years of age. The intrepid policeman joined the Sag Harbor Police Department in March 2024, and led the department in summons’ and arrests. When presenting Arkinson with the honor, Chief Rob Drake elaborated on his claims,

“Although Officer Arkinson was newly hired last year, he has made an immediate impact within the department and the community,”

Chief Drake continued,

“He has a positive attitude and shown tremendous initiative, always wanting to participate and learn to improve his knowledge and skills to become a more well-rounded police officer.”

It is evident that the bold and eager Arkinson was well deserving of the merit.

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Arkinson’s Role in Timberlake’s DWI Arrest

Once Arkinson made his initial intervention, his court filing reflects his detailed account of what ensued with the pop star,

“the defendant was operating said vehicle in an intoxicated condition in that his eyes were bloodshot and gassy, a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage was emanating from his breath, he was unable to divide attention, he had slowed speech, he was unsteady afoot, and he performed poorly on all standardized field sobriety tests.”

When questioned by Arkinson about his seemingly obvious level of inebriation, the “Cry Me A River” star claimed,

“I had one martini and I followed my friends home.”

It seemed that Timberlake was clearly stretching the truth, although the singer’s lawyer would eventually argue that Timberlake was fully sober during his arrest.

Eventually, in September 2024, Timberlake reversed his not guilty plea for the misdemeanor charge, and pled guilty in New York’s Sag Harbor Village Court, as per the Associated Press. In the end, the pop star was sentenced to a $500 fine (with a $260 surcharge) as well as 25 hours of community service at a non-profit organisation of his choice.

Arkinson’s intervention and subsequent follow through is especially significant because it served as an example of a police officer doing the right thing and not giving into the pressures of giving a celebrity preferential treatment due to their status. This sense of entitlement creates a huge resentment between groups, and Arkinson’s actions speak to the possibility of an environment where no one is above the law. As a result, he has been hailed for his efforts, and rightly so.