A bodyguard working for Justin Bieber has been charged with felony robbery a day after police say he stole a photographer’s pricey camera following an altercation in Atlanta.
According to police, 32-year-old Hugo Hesny had a run-in with photographer Jason Winslow while Bieber and his entourage were at an arcade on Tuesday afternoon, but no equipment was taken. Winslow left in his car and Hesny pursued in a Cadillac Escalade, driven by another man.
Capt. Steve Rose of the Sandy Springs police told the Altanta Journal-Constitution that the two men cornered Winslow in a nearby parking lot.
“The security guard took the camera from the photographer’s car and both men left and drove to the home Bieber is renting,” Rose said. The camera is believed to be worth $10,000.
A police car was waiting for Hesny at Bieber’s rental and he and the driver, Terrance Johnson, were arrested and booked at Fulton County jail early Wednesday. Police cleared Johnson, but charged Hesny with felony entering auto, before upgrading to felony robbery. He is being held and has a first court appearance set for Thursday morning.
A search of the Escalade turned up less than an ounce of marijuana and a pair of “large” glass smoking pipes, suspected of containing traces of weed.
Police say Bieber was not involved in the alleged camera-snatch.
Hesny’s motive for wanting Winslow’s camera is unknown. Winslow has worked for Corbis Images and appears to have been on the Bieber beat this week, most notably taking photos of a protest organized by a prankster radio show posing as worried neighbors hoping to keep Bieber from moving there.