Rapper T.I. calls arrest outside his gated community ‘nonsense,’ blames ‘white cops’
Atlanta rapper and actor T.I., who reinvented himself as an activist and political force after time in federal prison and years of trouble with the law, was arrested early Wednesday outside his gated community in Henry County, authorities said.
The music star, whose legal name is Clifford Harris Jr., was arrested after returning to the Eagle’s Landing Country Club community in the 100 block of Eagle’s Landing Way around 4 a.m.
T.I. did not have his key and argued with a security guard who would not grant him access, Henry County police said. At some point, the rapper called a friend who eventually joined him.
T.I. was arrested on misdemeanor charges of simple assault, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness. His friend, Marquinarius Holmes, 40, of Stockbridge, was arrested on outstanding charges out of Clayton County and for not having proof of car insurance, the sheriff’s office told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Via a live Instagram video, T.I. addressed the arrest as “nonsense” and “small potatoes,” adding that God will take care of it. He appeared in the video while celebrating his son’s 10th birthday at his home.
Later Wednesday, he told TheBlast.com that law enforcement in the county are “white cops in a very white area.”
He was released from the Henry County Jail about 8 a.m. Wednesday after posting $2,250 bond. He did not appear before a judge.
In a statement to The AJC, attorney Steve Sadow said T.I. “was wrongfully arrested” and accused the guard of refusing him entry into his own home after the superstar’s wife confirmed he “should be let in immediately.”
Tyisha Fernandes
✔@TyishaWSB
BREAKING: Just got this from T.I’s attorney about this morning’s arrest
According to Sadow, police were not interested in hearing T.I.’s side of the story when they arrived on the scene and “wrongfully chose to end the situation by arresting” him. Henry police have not addressed the comments from T.I.’s attorney.
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