Justin Bieber is Now A Suspect In Assault and Battery Case

Justin Bieber is now officially a suspect in a criminal battery case.

According to TMZ, Bieber was at a mall in Calabasas, CA just after noon Sunday when a paparazzo attempted to take his picture.  Witnesses say the photographer had been blocking Justin’s car as the singer was trying to leave.  When Justin got out of the car and asked the guy to move, he didn’t.  Reports say that there was a physical altercation, and the photographer decided to call 911, complaining of pain to his upper torso.

Here’s where the story gets fuzzy, however.  Several witnesses say that after the altercation, a lawyer walked up to the photographer and advised him to call for an ambulance and file a police report to get some money out of the incident.  Soon after being taken to the hospital and released, that’s exactly what the guy did.

Police are now investigating the incident as a misdemeanor battery, and detectives want to speak with Justin, Selena and any other witnesses.

So you tell us…legitimate injury, or just a guy trying to make a few extra dollars?