George Zimmerman made his first court appearance today. He entered the courtroom in handcuffs. Flanked by a police officer and his lawyer, Mark O'Mara, Zimmerman acknowledged the second-degree murder charge against him. He spoke only briefly, saying "Yes, sir" twice, and did not enter a plea.
Rapper Tyler, The Creator was arrested on suspicion of felony vandalism on Thursday, following a show at a nightclub on the famed Sunset Strip, police said.
The rapper, 20, whose real name is Tyler Gregory Okonma, was performing with his rap group Odd Future at the Roxy Theater Thursday night when an electric soundboard was destroyed, causing the venue's security team to call police.
"Suspect Okonma exited the location and was placed under arrest by deputies for felony vandalism, due to the value of the electronic soundboard," said a spokesman for the West Hollywood Sheriff's station. "As he was being escorted to a nearby radio car, the crowd exiting the venue became angry and rushed into the street towards the deputies."
West Hollywood is a Los Angeles-area city in which many of the Sunset Strip clubs are located.
Footage from celebrity showbiz website TMZ.com showed the rapper being jovial while sitting in the back of a police car, while amateur audience video showed the rapper kicking items around stage before leaving the venue. TMZ also reported that the rapper was taken into custody in front of his mother.
But Tyler, The Creator, who received the best new artist award at this year's MTV Video Music Awards, took to Twitter on Friday to deny the reports, saying "I Wasnt In No Jail Or Arrested Or Nothing," before posting a video that showed a raucous crowd jumping onto the stage during the Roxy show.
A representative for the rapper could not immediately be reached for comment at this time.
(Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte
Singer/actress Teairra Mari is addressing her arrest last week for drunk driving. The party girl owns up to making a mistake, but denies the reports that she allegedly attacked the police. But, other than that, she takes full responsibility for the incident.
"Let me start by saying that this is a very embarrassing moment for me," she said via statement. "I know that I've disappointed so many people including myself. I take full responsibility for my actions, but I absolutely did NOT "attack" a Beverly Hills police officer and I'm very confused by those allegations."
" I did have drinks and I misjudged the situation by driving myself home," she continued. "I want to apologize to those that I endangered that night and also to the people that I've let down. I hope that this situation can save someone from making the dumb decision to drink and drive!
Two men have been arrested near Joss Stone's home on suspicion of conspiracy to rob and murder, after reportedly being found in a car with swords, rope, a body bag and plans of the soul singer's secluded house.
Stone said in a statement that she was "absolutely fine and getting on with life as normal" as police faced a deadline to charge or release the suspects.
Devon and Cornwall Police said the men, aged 30 and 33, and from the Manchester area of northwest England, were arrested Monday morning near Stone's house in Cullompton, 175 miles (280 kilometers) southwest of London, after residents reported a suspicious-looking vehicle.
Detective Inspector Steve Parker said the men "had in their possession information relating to an individual in the Cullompton area and items which lead us to suspect that they may have intended to commit a criminal offense."
The force would not confirm a report in The Sun newspaper that the men had swords, rope and a body bag, as well as maps and aerial photos of Stone's property.
Parker said it was "important to stress that no properties have been burgled and no individuals have been harmed."
Two police officers stood guard Wednesday outside the gates to the house, which is on a quiet country road.
Stone's London publicists, DWL, said the singer was aware of the arrests and was being kept up to date by the police.
They would not say whether 24-year-old Stone was at home when the men were arrested.
The suspects were being questioned Wednesday at a police station. Police have until 7:30 p.m. local time (2:30 p.m. EDT) Wednesday to charge or release them.
Stone came to fame in 2003 as a small-town teenager with a big, soulful voice, showcased on her best-selling debut album "The Soul Sessions" and hit singles including "Fell In Love With A Boy."
She won a Grammy Award in 2007 in the R&B category for her collaboration with John Legend and Van Hunt on a cover of Sly and the Family Stone's "Family Affair," and is a member of rock supergroup Super Heavy with Rolling Stone Mick Jagger, reggae scion Damian Marley and Dave Stewart of Eurythmics.
She has also taken acting roles, including that of Henry VIII's fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, in TV drama "The Tudors."
With a fortune estimated last month by the Sunday Times Rich List at 9 million pounds ($14.6 million), she still lives in the rural southwestern county of Devon where she was raised.
She is a friend of Prince William and was a guest at his wedding to Kate Middleton in April.
LAS VEGAS – Police in Las Vegas say rapper and reality television star Flavor Flav was arrested on four outstanding misdemeanor warrants for driving offenses.
Las Vegas police Officer Marcus Martin said Monday the entertainer whose real name is William Jonathan Drayton was arrested Friday night after a traffic stop east of the Las Vegas Strip.
Martin says Drayton had two outstanding warrants for driving without a license, one for driving without insurance and one related to a parking citation.
Martin says Drayton is no longer in custody.
It wasn't immediately clear whether he had a lawyer or when he is due in court.
Flavor Flav was a member of Public Enemy, and has remained in the spotlight in recent years through appearances on several cable reality shows.
Police in Las Vegas say rapper and reality television star Flavor Flav was arrested on four outstanding misdemeanor warrants for driving offenses.
Las Vegas police Officer Marcus Martin said Monday the entertainer whose real name is William Jonathan Drayton was arrested Friday night after a traffic stop east of the Las Vegas Strip.
Martin says Drayton had two outstanding warrants for driving without a license, one for driving without insurance and one related to a parking citation.
Martin says Drayton is no longer in custody.
It wasn't immediately clear whether he had a lawyer or when he is due in court.
Flavor Flav was a member of Public Enemy, and has remained in the spotlight in recent years through appearances on several cable reality shows.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Highway Patrol officers have arrested rapper Webbie on drug possession and tampering with evidence charges after he was pulled over following a performance in Kentucky.
Webbie, whose real name is Webster Gradney Jr., was riding in a rental car that was stopped Monday south of Nashville. Authorities say the 25-year-old rapper from Baton Rouge, La., was found with $13,000 and 2 ounces of marijuana. Troopers also say he threw marijuana out the car window.
There was no attorney listed for him at the jail and a message left with his booking agency, Celebrity Talent Promotions, was not immediately returned.
Webbie's album "Savage Life 2" made the rap charts in 2008.
The rental car's driver was charged with driving with a suspended license and another passenger faces a gun charge.
According to TMZ, R&B singer Angie Stone was arrested yesterday in Georgia for speeding while driving on a suspended license. She was released an hour later. No word from her rep yet
New Orleans rapper Juvenile was arrested on a drug charge and released from a northern Louisiana jail after posting bond, police said Sunday.
Sterlington Police Sgt. Jacob Greer said that Juvenile, whose real name is Terius Gray, was charged with simple possession of marijuana and driving on a suspended license.
Greer said he pulled over Gray's car about 10:55 p.m. Saturday after clocking it at 75 mph in a 65 mph zone and for passing in the right lane, which is illegal in Louisiana. He was released a short time later after posting a $750 cash bond.
Greer said after he stopped the 35-year-old rapper, he smelled marijuana and Gray handed over small bag of it when asked.
Greer said the suspended license appeared when police checked his name with law enforcement records. Both charges are misdemeanors.
"He was very courteous and respectful as he could be. He asked me if I recognized him, and I said `No. Now if you were George Strait I'll probably have recognized you,'" Greer said.
There was no phone listing for Gray in New Orleans. Greer said he did not know whether Gray had an attorney.
The rapper has an April 1 court date in Sterlington, located north of Monroe in northern Louisiana.
Juvenile, best known for the song "Back That Thing Up," has been arrested at least five times on charges ranging from failure to pay child support to resisting an officer at a Florida mall in 1999. Most of the charges have been dismissed. In 2003, he was sentenced to community service for hitting a man on the head with a champagne bottle.
In August 2010, he pleaded guilty in Saint Bernard Parish to a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge. He received a suspended sentence of three months in jail and was given six months probation and paid a $250 fine and court costs.
Authorities say rapper DMX has been arrested in Phoenix for investigation of violating his probation by using drugs.
The 39-year-old performer was arrested by Maricopa County probation officers and is being held without bond in the county jail.
Court documents released Friday allege he violated probation by using cocaine and OxyContin, failing to submit to drug testing and driving on a suspended license. He was arrested Thursday.
DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons, has been arrested twice for violating probation for 2009 felony convictions for cruelty to animals, theft and two drug counts.
Probation officials want his probation revoked. Simmons' attorney could not immediately be reached.
Wiz Khalifa and 10 of his colleagues have been arrested on marijuana charges in North Carolina.
East Carolina University spokesman John Durham said Tuesday that police arrested the rapper, whose real name is Cameron Thomaz, shortly after a campus concert Monday night. Durham says officers had noticed a prevalent odor of marijuana around the backstage area.
Each of those arrested was charged with three drug counts, including maintaining a place for the sale of marijuana.
Officials at the Pitt County Detention Center said Pittsburgh-based Thomaz posted $300,000 bond Tuesday morning. His record company did not immediately return a message seeking comment, but Thomaz posted a message on Twitter saying, "jail sux."
ATLANTA – Authorities say a police officer used pepper spray on rapper Gucci Mane after he resisted arrest during a traffic stop.
Atlanta Police spokesman Curtis Davenport said the rapper, whose real name is Radric Davis, was arrested Tuesday after an off-duty officer stopped his white Hummer near Atlanta's downtown area.
Davenport said officers saw the rapper arguing with another person. He said they had to use pepper spray after Davis assaulted that person, whose identity wasn't released.
Authorities say Davis was arrested and charged with obstruction of officers, interference with government property, reckless driving and other counts.
In May, the rapper was released from an Atlanta jail after serving six months for violating probation on an assault charge.
Bruno Mars should be having the best week ever: He has the No. 1 song in America, his debut album, "Doo-Wops & Hooligans," was released this week and his 25th birthday is on Friday.
But while singer-songwriter-producer has much to smile about, at the same time, his success is being tainted by a recent felony charge.
Mars was arrested last month for allegedly possessing 2.6 grams of cocaine after performing at a Las Vegas nightclub. He's due in court Nov. 18 and if convicted, he faces up to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
But some industry experts believe the drug charge won't do much harm to the singer's rising career.
"I don't think he meant it to come off that way, but his recent arrest shows that he has a little bit of edge I suppose," said Craig Marks, the editor of Billboard.
Marks said the arrest might have the unintended effect of introducing Mars to a wider celebrity audience than he would have enjoyed before.
"It's not the best kind of publicity and hopefully it doesn't really indicate some kind of deeper problem," Marks said, "but the fact is that I don't think it will harm his following."
The drug charge for the talented musician comes as a surprise. Though a newcomer, the image Mars built was an easygoing, wholesome one.
He's the man with the cooing falsetto and guitar grooves, behind the scene and in front of it. He sang on, co-wrote and co-produced two of the year's biggest songs: Travie McCoy's jam "Billionaire" and B.o.B's No. 1 rap groove "Nothin' on You." And Mars' own single, the pop tune "Just the Way You Are," has made it to the top spot of Billboard's Hot 100 chart.
"He's got a good mix of R&B and pop styles, which is very 'right' right now," Marks said.
Mars is one-third of the production trio the Smeezingtons, which includes Philip Lawrence and Ari Levine. Mars said they put together "Nothin' on You" and "Billionaire" in a single day. The Smeezingtons have also produced international hits like Flo Rida's "Right Round," K'Naan's "Wavin' Flag" and Cee Lo's "(Expletive) You!" And they've penned tunes for Justin Bieber, Brandy, Matisyahu, Mike Posner and Sean Kingston, among others.
They met in Los Angeles where Mars moved in 2002 after graduating from high school in Hawaii.
Mars' mother, from the Philippines, and his father, of Puerto Rican descent, met in Hawaii. Mars said he was singing professionally since the age of 6, and credits the island with helping him discover his musical talents.
"I was real lucky because I come from a real musical family and Hawaii's already so musical, like everybody already plays instruments, everybody's already singing," he said. "You have your Top 40 radio so you can get your hip-hop and your R&B, but then you get this other stuff, this cool folk music, these really beautiful songs on ukulele and acoustic, and (I) just grew up with a lot of (that)."
When Mars started writing for "Doo-Wops & Hooligans," he focused on creating songs that would translate during live performances, drawing inspiration from Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley and Prince.
"I like watching rock stars, people that come up on stage and do their thing. Even Tupac. That's what I idolized," said Mars, who is currently on the road with Maroon 5 and OneRepublic (his own tour kicks off in November).
He found creating songs for his own album somewhat complicated.
R&B singer Mario was arrested this morning for assaulting his mom, a former heroin addict. According to TMZ:
"According to police, Mario's mother Shawntia Hardaway — a former heroin addict — told cops Mario had been "throwing and damaging property" … and pushed her around with his hands and forearms.
Cops say they found several broken items inside the apartment — including a broken china cabinet, a busted mirror and a hole in the closet door.
Mario's mother also told police the 24-year-old singer had attacked her earlier in the week — in which he pushed her "eight feet into a living room wall, where Ms. Hardaway hit her head on the wall."
Mario — real name Mario Dewar Bennett — was eventually arrested this morning for 2nd degree assault. He was released on $50,000 bond."
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