Justin Bieber's paparazzi scuffle sparks sheriff's investigation

Justin Bieber got in a scuffle with the paparazzi

Justin Bieber appears at 102.7 KIIS FM's Wango Tango at The Home Depot Center on May 12 in Casron. (Kevin Wynter / Getty Images / May 12, 2012)

What began as a parking issue has escalated into a sheriff's investigation for pop star Justin Bieber.

The singer, 18, got into a scuffle with a photographer on Sunday in Calabasas. The photog was allegedly blocking the path of Justin's car as he was leaving a local mall, girlfriend Selena Gomez in tow.

The paparazzo wouldn't budge and Bieber leapt from the vehicle. A "physical altercation" broke out, according to TMZ. Bieber bounced immediately after, driving off with Ms. Gomez while the photog called 911.

The altercationleft the camera man with pain in his upper body. The TMZ report went on to say that after Bieber's exit, a lawyer approached his sparring partner and offered his services.

Bieber's been named a suspect in what's now a Los Angeles County sheriff's battery investigation. Hopefully his Ellen DeGeneres-awarded diploma will serve him well in questioning.

RELATED:

Bieber goes to school; girl says she's 'gonna explode'

Here's what Bieber and Kim Kardashian have in common

Justin Bieber discusses his DNA test (and we help explain the moustache)

Follow Matt Donnelly on Twitter@mattdonnelly.