T.I. Arrested for Public Drunkenness, Disorderly Conduct Outside His Gated Community in Atlanta
T.I. was reportedly arrested outside the gated community where he lives in Henry County, Georgia around 4 A.M. on Wednesday (May 16) for public drunkenness and disorderly conduct.
According to WSBTV, it appears that T.I. (born Clifford Harris Jr.) may have been returning from a night out when he got back to the gated community where he lives when he realized he didn't have his key. He reportedly argued with the security guard who refused to let him in, and eventually he called a friend who joined him and things escalated to the point that police were called.
“Don’t you know who I am?” Tip asked the security guard, according to Henry County Police.
In a statement to XXL, T.I.'s attorney Steve Sadow spoke out about the arrest. "Tip was wrongfully arrested early this morning when he attempted to gain entrance into his gated community - where his wife “Tiny” and his family reside," it begins. "The guard was sound asleep when Tip arrived at the guardhouse. It took Tip some time to wake up the sleeping guard. Tip clearly identified himself and sought entry. The guard refused entry. Tip was in contact with “Tiny” by phone and “Tiny” confirmed that Tip should be let in immediately. The guard continued to refuse entry without justification. Words were exchanged and apparently the guard and/or a supervisor called the police. When the police arrived, they were not interested in hearing Tip’s side of the story and wrongfully chose to end the situation by arresting Tip."
Police arrested both T.I. and his friend, who reportedly had a warrant out for his arrest already. T.I. was charged with public drunkenness and disorderly conduct, but has since bonded out.
This isn't T.I.'s first run-in with the law. He was arrested in 2007 on federal firearms charges which caused him to miss the BET Awards that year, and he later served a year in an Ariz. prison for the charges. He recently spoke out about the nationwide discussion on gun control, and said that although reform is necessary, the government shouldn't be able to take away firearms entirely.
"I think, you know, mental stabilization needs to be a big part—not being a felon isn't enough. People think the felons are the ones causing the problems but it seems as though people who have been given gun licenses, who bought guns legally, are the ones who are causing all of the mass hysteria."
"Our system is broken," he added.
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