Inquiry into Charlie Sheen police escort

Police are investigating why the actor Charlie Sheen was given a police escort from an airport to his show in Washington DC this week.

Police cars, with lights flashing and sirens blaring, escorted the former Two and a Half Men star from Dulles International Airport to his stage show, "Violent Torpedo of Truth: Defeat Is Not an Option", on Tuesday.

At the time, Sheen was running nearly an hour late for the show. The actor tweeted about the ride and included a snapshot he had taken en route of a squad car speedometer reading about 80mph.

The police department's internal affairs unit is investigating the incident. The area's police chief said he did not authorise the escort.