Busta Rhymes Surrenders to Police on Misdemeanor Assault Charge

Busta Rhymes turned himself into police Wednesday night (January 3) and was booked on a third degree misdemeanor assault charge for allegedly attacking his driver, Eddie Hatchett. According to the New York Post, Busta was accompanied by attorneys Robert Kalina and Scott Leemon when he arrived at Manhattan's First Precinct at around 7:30 p.m. After being processed and fingerprinted, he was escorted from the station by police and taken to Manhattan's Central Booking facility on Centre Street. Busta, whose real name is Trevor Smith, was expected to spend the night behind bars pending his arraignment Thursday morning.

The assault charge stems from an incident reported by Hatchett on December 27, wherein he claims to have been punched in the face by Busta when he showed up at the rapper's office at 84 W. Broadway on the day after Christmas seeking 19 days worth of overdue salary. Hatchett was directed by police at his local Brooklyn precinct to the First precinct, where the alleged assault occurred. Busta is due in court in February to answer to separate assault charge he picked up in August for allegedly beating a fan who accidentally spit on his car. Additionally, NYPD detectives have been attempting to question Busta since February of 2006 in the slaying of his bodyguard Israel Ramirez at the video shoot for his hit single "Touch It."