Whitney Houston reportedly escaped arrest last week, after she allegedly
was caught with half an ounce of marijuana by security officers at a
Hawaii airport who did not have the authority to arrest her.
Security personnel at Keahole-Kona
International Airport, in
Kailua-Kona, seized a bag from the pop star and tried to detain her,
but she walked away and boarded a flight to San Francisco, according to
accounts in the Associated Press and the Hilo, Hawaii,
Tribune-Herald.
Police showed up 45 minutes after the plane took off, the AP
reported.
Hawaii County Prosecutor Jay Kimura told the AP that pending the
results of a police investigation, he would decide whether to charge the
singer. Possession of 15 grams of marijuana is punishable by up to 30
days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Representatives for Houston could not be reached for comment Monday. An
airport security officer allegedly found the marijuana after asking
Houston to open her bag for inspection, the Tribune-Herald
reported.
Airport security officers work for a private company and are not allowed
to make arrests for crimes unrelated to airport security.
The airport's on-site security office would not comment Monday and
referred calls to the UC Kona police department. A police spokesperson
couldn't be reached for comment.
Houston is a top nominee — along with teen pop singer Britney
Spears and country singer Shania Twain — at the 27th Annual
American Music Awards, scheduled to be broadcast live from Los Angeles
on Monday, 8 p.m. EST. She is up for three awards, including Favorite
Female Artist in both the pop/rock and the soul/R&B categories. Her 1998
album, My Love Is Your Love (RealAudio
excerpt of title track), is up for Favorite Album in the
soul/R&B category.
Houston also is nominated for four Grammy Awards, including Best R&B
Album, for My Love Is Your Love. The Grammys are to be held Feb.
23 in Los Angeles.
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