Police deny Jackson claims

MICHAEL JACKSON may face new charges if his claims that he was manhandled by police proved to be false, officers said.

Police in California have hit back at claims that the pop star was roughed up during his recent arrest over child sex abuse allegations.

A news conference heard police tape recordings of Jackson saying he was “wonderful, thank you very much” and “fine” while in custody. The 45-year-old star was also heard whistling and humming to himself as he was driven to the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office in California.

Police video footage showed Jackson meeting police at an airport in California and getting into an unmarked police car.

Further footage showed a handcuffed Jackson going into the Sheriff’s Office.

In a TV interview Jackson said he suffered a dislocated shoulder and bruising to his arms from handcuffs which were locked behind his back. He also said he was locked in a filthy toilet for 45 minutes against his will. Sheriff Jim Anderson told a news conference he had asked the state Attorney General to investigate Jackson’s claims.

If they proved to be false, he said he would file further charges of “false reporting” against the pop star.

Jackson already faces seven charges of molesting a teenage cancer sufferer and two further charges of administering an intoxicating substance. Jackson has called the accusations a “big lie”.

Mr Anderson said: “Mr Jackson was treated with the utmost respect and courtesy during his arrest, transport and booking and release by all members of this department.

“He was in no way manhandled or abused. His treatment by this department can only be described as professional.

“I am shocked and troubled by his allegations.”

Mr Anderson said Jackson was handcuffed behind his back as part of the “standard arrest procedure” and the cuffs were double-locked to prevent them from tightening any further. Jackson was advised by police how to sit in the car to make the cuffs less painful, after he said they were “tight”.

Jackson has released photographs of a bruise to his arm, which he said was caused by his handcuffing.

But Mr Anderson said the bruise was on a different part of his arm to where cuffs would be placed.

Mr Anderson said Jackson was twice asked how he was feeling during the journey to the police station.

“On the first occasion, Mr Jackson responded by saying he was fine. When he was asked a second time he responded by saying he was wonderful.

“He was also whistling and singing to himself during transport,” Mr Anderson said. The handcuffs were removed within 40 seconds of Jackson arriving at the police station.

Mr Anderson said the booking process, which took 63 minutes, was personally overseen by jail command staff.