Blondie’s Deborah Harry speaks up for musician arrested amid probe into actor Hoffman’s death

By The Associated Press

Posted May 14, 2014 01:41:36 AM.

This article is more than 5 years old.

NEW YORK, N.Y. – A jazz musician arrested on drug charges amid an investigation into actor Philip Seymour Hoffman’s death is getting support from Blondie singer Deborah Harry.

She and bandmate Chris Stein praise sideman Robert Vineberg in a letter filed with court papers Tuesday as “an asset to New York’s culture.”

Vineberg was arrested as police followed leads after Hoffman’s Feb. 2 death from a mix of heroin, cocaine and other drugs. Vineberg has pleaded not guilty to possessing heroin with the intent to sell. He wasn’t charged with selling it or playing any role in Hoffman’s death.

According to a police report, Vineberg said he was friendly with Hoffman and had occasionally sold him heroin but hadn’t seen him since October.

Hoffman’s publicist didn’t immediately respond to an email.

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