Push Comes To Shove, And IDJ's Roppo Gets Blamed

Justin Bieber

ISLAND DEF JAM SVP/Sales JAMES ROPPO was arrested FRIDAY (11/20) after a crowd of over 3,000 teens caused a near-riot at THE ROOSEVELT FIELD MALL on LONG ISLAND, NY while waiting in line for autographs from pop sensation JUSTIN BIEBER, reports THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS. BIEBER was promoting his new album "My World" at a clothing store named "Justice."

The event, which was also promoted by COX Top 40 WBLI/NASSAU-SUFFOLK, got ROPPO in trouble with the police when they claimed he didn't send a TWITTER message to the crowd to disburse. ROPPO faces charges of reckless endangerment, criminal nuisance, obstruction of governmental administration and endangering the welfare of children, police said.

"The kids were just out of control," said a mother who brought her 12-year-old daughter.

"People started screaming 'JUSTIN' and they ran forward and the ropes collapsed," said AIMEE MACCHI, 13, who was knocked down in the stampede. "Everyone was pushing, there was no room to breathe," she said. "I was literally on the floor."

BIEBER tweeted a warning to his fans to stay away. "They are not allowing me to come into the mall. if you dont leave, I and my fans will be arrested as the police just told us," BIEBER tweeted. "The event at roosevelt mall is cancelled," he wrote. "please go home. ... I dont want anyone hurt."

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