Rapper Nelly was arrested Wednesday in St. Louis. Although an online arrest record and several media outlets reported that he was in possession of four Ecstasy pills, his attorney denied the allegations.
“Mr. Haynes was not charged with drug possession, but was arrested for ‘no proof of insurance’ in 2018 on a warrant issued in December 2023 and received no notice,” attorney Scott Rosenblum said in a statement.
Rosenblum said Nelly, whose real name is Cornell Haynes Jr., had won several jackpots at an unnamed location he frequently visited, and instead of “supervising the transfer of Mr. Haynes' winnings,” an officer “felt compelled to conduct an unnecessary check for warrants.”
Once Nelly learned there was a search warrant for lack of insurance, the officer, according to his attorney, handcuffed the rapper and proceeded to “parade him through the casino in front of other patrons.” Rosenblum said the officer also conducted a pat-down on Nelly without cause and claimed to have found “ecstasy” in his possession.
Rosenblum said the rapper was “targeted by an overzealous and out-of-line officer,” and noted that “any other citizen would have been asked to address the matter and allowed to continue on their way.”
His lawyer added that he was “100% confident that this case will not lead to any result” and that he “will request an investigation into the conduct of this officer.”
The three-time Grammy winner, known for hits like “Hot in Here” and “Dilma,” was arrested in April 2015 and faced drug charges in Tennessee after a search of his tour bus turned up methamphetamine and marijuana.
“I feel the need to take responsibility for my choices in needing to be more aware of all the people I come in contact with and allow on my property while committing to making better choices moving forward,” Nelly said in a statement after her 2015 arrest. “While my instinct, of course, is to be accessible to my friends, fans and acquaintances, the last thing I want to do is compromise the respect and admiration of my friends, family and fans.” Nelly later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge.
The artist was also arrested in October 2017 after a woman alleged he sexually assaulted her on his tour bus in Washington, D.C. Nelly's attorney at the time called the allegation “fabricated” and “devoid of credibility.”
The Public Prosecution dropped the case in September 2018 after the woman decided not to participate in the investigation.
