Updated after the jump: Aguilera's BF was allegedly “driving erratically” when the couple was pulled over. Good times!

This may answer our burning questions about Christina Aguilera's creative rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner” at the infamous opening Super Bowl ceremonies, and, come to think of it, that classic fall at the Grammys, too, and whether her recent clumsiness could have some… juice behind it.

Because there's no denying it now: The girl loves her juice! Even on a cold Monday night, when the rest of us were dreaming dreadful dreams about having to get up for work in a few hours (bitch), Aguilera couldn't resist a good 'n' juiced joyride with her allegedly also drunk boyfriend, 25-year-old Matthew Rutler:

L.A. County sheriff's deputies pulled the couple over at 2:45 a.m. in the 1100 block of Clark Street, then hauled them off to the West Hollywood Sheriff's Station for the holdin'.

This morning, the station was bum-rushed by reporters hoping to catch Aguilera's walk of shame from her cell into the migraine-inducing sunshine. Alas — no such luck. KNX news radio is saying she ducked out just about 7:30 a.m., somehow making it past paparazzi into a friend's car.

The Internet is predictably shitting bricks, but sheriff's officials stress that — although Aguilera's boyfriend, Matthew Rutler, was booked for a DUI under $5,000 bail (TMZ, ever the drama queen, originally reported it as $30,000) — the singer herself was only handed a misdemeanor and detained until she sobered up.

“She was taken into custody for her own welfare,” Sergeant Michael Thomas tells the Weekly. “She was not able to take care of herself.”

Detective Steve Whitmore confirmed at a press conference: “It's kind of a unique situation. We do indeed arrest the individual… but we have no desire to prosecute. It is just a public welfare issue.”

Here's the official report:

At 2:45 A.M. Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Deputies assigned to West Hollywood station conducted a traffic stop in the 1100 block of Clark Street, West Hollywood, regarding a Drunk Driving investigation. The driver, Matthew Rutler, was determined to be driving while under the influence of alcohol and arrested.

Christina Aguilera was the passenger in the vehicle. Deputies determined Aguilera was intoxicated. Since she was not able to care for her safety and no one was available to ensure her safety, Aguilera was taken into custody. Sheriff's Department officials stressed that she was not involved in any criminal activity and will be released when she can safely care for herself.

There has been much speculation as of late, re: Super Bowl/Grammys/divorce/plumpening figure, that Aguilera may be on somewhat of a downward spiral. TMZ puts it vaguely, but definitely puts it: “Sources close to Xtina tell us they have been trying to get the singer into a rehab program for weeks.”

It is kind of screwed up, though, even if she is going off the deep end, that Aguilera gets a “drunk in public” on her record for merely sitting in the passenger's seat of a drunkenly driven vehicle. Also, deputies are withholding the singer's mug shot. Is there no justice left in this godforsaken city?

Update: Whitmore has a new, superior adjective to describe Aguilera last night: “incapacitated.” Damn. And Rutler, according to the deputies who pulled him over, was “driving erratically'' at the time. Quite a pair!

Aguilera's bail was set at $250 when she was booked at about 3:30 a.m., but she won't be prosecuted for her misdemeanor.

“She was cooperative,” said Whitmore. “She was not belligerent in any way whatsoever; she was just intoxicated.”

Even jucier: “So, she was brought here, and then when she was able to navigate, and

think on her own, and make her own way, she was released at about 7:30 this morning. As she got better, she said, 'I would just like to leave.' So, that's what happened.''

Originally posted at 9:30 a.m.

[@simone_electra/swilson@laweekly.com]

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