Nelly escapes charges for alleged ecstasy possession: “A dumb arrest”
Nelly, the legendary rapper, will avoid any charges against him after being arrested in August for allegedly possessing ecstasy pills. The ‘Hot in Herre’ rapper was at a casino in Missouri when a police officer searched and arrested him while attempting to collect his winnings. It is a huge relief for the rapper, who could have seen himself in hot water had the charges been upheld.
“We don’t believe the facts in this case warrant the issuing of charges,” a spokesman for the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office told Rolling Stone. According to TMZ, Nelly struck $50,000 on a slot machine but was put in handcuffs shortly after on a warrant that dated back to 2018.
Nelly’s lawyer previously claimed that an “overzealous” officer “needlessly” ran a search for warrants and arrested him. The officer then “felt compelled” to enjoy his celebrity snag and “parade him through the casino in front of other customers.”
A source close to the situation said, “He won a jackpot at the casino. They ran him. He had an old warrant for driving without [proper paperwork], and they searched him.” The details mean that, “It was an improper search. It was a really dumb arrest.”
Nelly had a prior run-in with the law in 2015 when he was arrested in Tennessee after marijuana and methamphetamines were found during a search of his tour bus, resulting in him pleading guilty to a misdemeanour charge.
“I feel the need to take responsibility for my choices in needing to be more aware of all the people I associate with and allow onto my property while committing to making better choices moving forward,” he said in a statement at the time.
Nelly moved to further defend his position but also recognise his responsibility in the matter: “While my instinct, of course, is to be accessible to my friends, fans, and acquaintances, the last thing I would want to do is compromise the respect and admiration of friends, family, and fans.”
The arrest came just weeks after Nelly welcomed his first child with singer Ashanti. The baby boy, named Kareem Kenkaide Hayes, was born on July 18th to “proud and happy parents” that are “so in love” with him.
Nelly’s last album Heartland was released in August 2021, serving as his first album in eight years. The country-rap project didn’t chart well, debuting at number 45 on the Billboard 200 chart.