Sue Hartigan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
I know everyone is just waiting to find out the whole story on this.
<TIC> Sue
SHAMED superstar George Michael was in hiding last
night after he was accused of exposing himself to an
undercover cop.
The multi-millionaire singer was handcuffed and arrested
after allegedly performing a lewd act in public toilets at a
park near his Los Angeles home. He faces a possible
six months' jail.
The palm-tree fringed Will Rogers Memorial Park in
Beverly Hills has become a notorious meeting point for
local gays cruising for sex.
Bachelor George, 34, was caught up in a police
operation to target the park for perverts after complaints
from well-heeled local residents.
Police said George was alone in the public toilet when a
plain-clothes officer walked in. Another officer waited
outside.
Lieutenant Edward Kreins of the Beverly Hills police
department said: "Even though this is a misdemeanour,
he could serve time in a county jail, though it is
unlikely."
He added: "There have been several complaints about
the park but it was sheer coincidence that the officer
went in when George Michael was there."
He added: "He went into the rest room of the park and
Mr Michael was engaged in a lewd act by himself. The
officer observed the act and arrested Mr Michael."
Police sources said he was masturbating.
Lt Kreins went on: "He was aware he was being
observed but he did not proposition the officer. Mr
Michael was aware that another individual had walked
into the rest room. The officer was in plain clothes at the
time. When he was arrested he was very co-operative
with our officers. The officer did not recognise that he
was a pop star."
He arrested George and he was led away in handcuffs.
George was arrested and booked under the number
9802756 at Beverly Hills police station.
Lt Kreins said: "I was amazed by the Press attention. It
is even more than when Anna Nicole Smith was
arrested recently."
Four officers regularly patrol the park on the lookout for
perverts because families use the area. George was
arrested at 4.48pm on Tuesday evening and then taken
to Beverly Hills police station where was formally
booked with "disorderly conduct" under his real name
Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou and fingerprinted.
Police, who freed him without charge, said he had
originally given his name as George Michael and
described his occupation as singer. He was released at
8.05pm -three hours after his arrest - and paid his own
$500 bail to appear at Beverly Hills Municipal Court on
May 5.
Last night Michael was staying at the magnificent Los
Angeles mansion of gay record producer David Geffen.
A friend said: "George is with the Dreamworks label and
they will be supporting him through this.
"David is gay and although he has no sexual
relationship with George, he is being a true friend and
helping him come to terms with the enormity of what
has happened.
"George is staying at his house for the foreseeable
future - it is entirely secure and he can live without the
media hounding."
Police will now send a report on George's arrest to
Beverly Hills City Attorney, who will decide if the case
will go to court. Disorderly conduct is a misdemeanour
crime that can carry a six month prison sentence but is
more likely to end with a fine and community service.
George rents a house less than a mile from the scene
and regularly visits the park to walk his dog.
Last night his long-time British solicitor Tony Russell,
and manager Andy Stevens were flying to America to
see George. Mr Stevens said: "I have absolutely no
comment to make."
George's close friend and hero Elton John was stunned
when he heard the news. He asked: "Why? Why?
Why?".
The park toilets had been targeted by cops after
complaints from rich locals that it had become a popular
meeting place for "cottaging" homosexuals - gays who
commit sex acts with strangers. A squad of four officers
had been detailed to patrol the park in recent weeks.
George Michael's former Wham! partner Andrew
Ridgeley looked shocked when he was told about the
allegations.
He said: "I am completely unaware of this issue - and I
wouldn't want to make any comment about it until I
know more."
Ridgeley, 35, was speaking from his farmhouse home
near Wadebridge, Cornwall,where he lives with his
family. George's cousin Andros Georgiou put on a brave
face at the shock news yesterday but refused to
comment.
Andros, who runs the singer's record company Aegean,
was at the Capital Radio music awards in London in aid
of the Help a London Child charity. Two other members
of George's family were also there.
It was the first time in two years that George had failed
to turn up at the event. He is known as a generous
benefactor of the charity.
At last year's ceremony, when he accepted the award
for Best Male Artist, he movingly told of his grief at his
mother Lesley Panayiotu's death. The year before that
he donated �50,000 to the charity. Friends and
colleagues at the lunch yesterday gave the best-selling
artist their wholehearted support.
Ex-Take That star Robbie Williams, who won Best Male
Artist award, paid his own tribute to George from the
stage before the news broke. He said: "This is the first
thing I have ever won. When I went solo I said I wanted
to be up there among the Noel Gallaghers and George
Michaels."
Afterwards, as he was asked about George's arrest,
Robbie reacted angrily. He said: "How dare you! I've just
won an award! George is a mate of mine - so live and let
live."
Full Monty star Paul Barber who played Horse in the hit
film, said after winning an award for London's best movie
"Let us hope that George comes back. I am a great fan
of his. It is a real shame but it will not stop me buying
his music. He's a great singer."
Errol Brown, lead singer of Hot Chocolate, said: "I am
sad for George. He is a great artist and it is a shame
when people get tainted. He has to find his own way."
Ronan Keeting, lead singer of Boyzone, said: "I haven't
heard anything about it. George Michael is a very good
friend of mine and I would not know anything about it,
but it sounds crazy."
Boyzone's Steve Gateley added: "It's none of our
business what he does."
Former Take That singer Gary Barlow commented: "I
think it is unfortunate stars have to live their lives in
public - but if it is his intention I do think he should have
chosen somewhere more private."
George, who has always remained non-committal about
his sexuality, has had a series of personal disasters in
the last year. He was devastated when his mother
Lesley died after a courageous battle against cancer.
Her death was closely followed by tragedies involving his
two close friends Princess Diana and Gianni Versace.
Four years before that, his Brazilian lover Anselmo
Feleppa died at the age of 33.
The catalogue of catastrophes was worsened in his
professional life by the disappointing worldwide sales of
his album Older.
His popularity has collapsed around the world outside
the UK and Europe. In February he postponed plans for
his first world tour in seven years after plunging into a
depression.
Super-rich George is one of the wealthiest pop stars in
the world, with a personal fortune of over �70 million.
He owns a �1.5million home in North London and a �3
million luxury house in Santa Barbara, which has a
swimming pool and seven bedrooms. He permanently
rents the large house in Beverly Hills less than a mile
from where he was arrested yesterday. It has a tennis
court, two swimming pools and a separate guest house
in the garden.
Three years ago he splashed out �2 million on his St
Tropez mansion, which he called Chez Nobby - Nobby
is one of his nicknames. The South of France holiday
home is set in eight acres and boasts six bedrooms, a
sauna and a pool.
Joan Collins and Elton John are neighbours. Michael
visits the French holiday house, which is in the chic
Marres quarter, at least five times a-year. Even though
he already has several luxurious retreats, George was
given a special viewing of London's most expensive
home - Bromwich House in Highgate - just two years
ago.
The brochures for the �5.5million house cost �100 each
- but George was seriously interested in buying it. The
house, which is mostly glass, is probably the most
expensive four-bedroom home in London, although it has
seven bath and shower rooms, two garages and a
triangular swimming pool..
Eventually George turned down the opportunity to buy
the property although he may reconsider in the future.
When he is in France George drives a top-of-the-range
jeep. It is kept in a garage when he returns England.
In London he has a choice of cars - an R-reg black
Range Rover, a black Mercedes Benz and a dark blue
Jaguar XK8. He often chooses to be chauffeured by an
exclusive hire car firm when he wants to drink or he
needs to be picked up at the airport.
Behind-the-scenes George has given a fortune away to
charity with hundreds of anonymous donations. He has
secretly given �1 million away in one year to the needy
causes via his own charity, The Platinum Trust.
The trust was launched to help out mentally and
physically handicapped children who are often
overlooked by charity organisations. Most beneficiaries
don't have any idea about his involvement as the only
clue is "G. Panayiotou" printed on his letters.
- A PSYCHOTHERAPIST said last night that gays
enjoyed "cottaging" with strangers because they found it
the ultimate thrill.
Alan Wise said: "The risks have to get bigger and
bigger. People like George live the ultimate fast lane
lifestyle and survive on excitement and adrenalin. But
once they are discovered, they are devastated."
--
Two rules in life:
1. Don't tell people everything you know.
2.
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