Police picked Osbourne because he was in North Dakota for a gig

A party supposedly involving the star was organised in Fargo, North Dakota - but it was actually a scam by officers to round up missing criminal suspects.

Five hundred people with outstanding arrest warrants were sent invitations, and more than 30 suspects turned up.

Osbourne said it was "insulting" that his name was used but police argued it was a "creative" way to fight crime.

The star was selected because he was due to play a gig in a nearby arena, which was used to explain why he would supposedly be attending the event.

'Lazy policework'

Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney said he "meant no disrespect toward Mr Osbourne or his show".

"What we did was a very creative law enforcement technique to lure individuals who had active criminal warrants to come to us."

All of those who attended were detained, he added.

But this did not impress the former Black Sabbath singer.

"Instead of holding a press conference to pat himself on the back, Sheriff Laney should be apologising to me for using my name in connection with these arrests," Osbourne said.

"It is insulting to me and to my audience and it shows how lazy this particular sheriff is when it comes to doing his job."