April 9, 1998 12:00 AM ET
Pop singer George Michael was arrested in a Beverly Hills, Calif., park Tuesday evening for engaging in a lewd act and was charged with a misdemeanor.
Area residents complained to police about seeing lewd behavior in the bathroom at Will Rogers Park, which is located in one of Beverly Hills' most exclusive neighborhoods. A four-person undercover team responded to the complaints and found Michael -- alone in the bathroom -- engaging in a lewd act, Lt. Edward T. Kreins of the Beverly Hills Police Department told JAMTV. Kreins refused to elaborate on what sort of lewd behavior Michael was engaging in.
Just before 5 p.m. (PST) the former Wham! singer -- who gave police his birth name, Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, and told them he was a singer -- was arrested and taken to the B.H.P.D. where he was jailed. He was released around 8 p.m. Tuesday after posting a $500 bail.
Contrary to Associated Press reports, Kreins said the park does not have a reputation as a homosexual cruising ground. In fact, only two arrests were made in 1997 for lewd conduct, Kreins said.
Michael must appear in a Beverly Hills court on May 5 at 8:30 a.m. for a sentencing hearing. At that time, he faces a possible fine and jail term up to one year.
Michael's London-based publicist, Connie Filippello Publicity, had no comment.
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