Nelly‘s attorney has defended his client and claimed he was the victim of “overzealous” policing after he was arrested for possession of ecstasy and driving without insurance.
The “Hot in Here” rapper was at a Missouri casino on Tuesday night (August 6) and won a significant amount of money, which he then went to cash in — only for a police officer say they needed to do a background check first.
After running a background check, it came back that Nelly had an outstanding warrant stemming from a 2018 traffic stop in Maryland relating to driving without proof of insurance.
Nelly’s attorney claims that the rapper and actor was then handcuffed in the middle of the casino and paraded out in front of the public.
Nelly arrested in hometown for possession of ecstasy pic.twitter.com/mExedqlReU
— HipHopDX (@HipHopDX) August 7, 2024
His legal team further accuse the officer of then searching him without probable cause, which turned up four ecstasy pills.
In a statement to Page Six, they claim that Nelly was “targeted by an overzealous, out of line officer” and are calling for an enquiry into the cop’s conduct.
“I am 100 percent confident this case will go nowhere. And we will be asking for an inquiry into this officer’s conduct,” said Nelly’s attorney Scott Rosenblum.
There are mixed reports on whether Nelly was charged with felony drug possession, with his attorney denying that is the case.
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“After winning several jackpots, at a venue where Mr. Haynes [Nelly] frequently visits and entertains at its amphitheater; instead of just supervising the transfer of Mr. Haynes’ winnings, this officer felt compelled to needlessly run a check for warrants,” Rosenblum said.
Though Nelly’s attorney hit out at the background check, it is standard for Missouri casinos to run checks as part of the state’s gambling laws.
Rosenblum also referenced the fact that Nelly is a frequent traveler for touring purposes and is “regularly asked to supply proof of no warrants, including FBI checks,” and that The Longest Yard star had not been served for the driving without insurance case.
Nelly was booked for a mugshot but the Maryland Heights Police Department, which arrested him, have yet to comment on the incident.
It is not known if Nelly has yet been released.