Rapper Nelly was arrested in Tennessee Saturday after his Prevost motor coach bus was pulled over by a state trooper on Interstate 40 and a search of the vehicle turned up “five colored crystal-type rocks that tested positive for methamphetamine,” “numerous handguns,” and “a small amount of marijuana and other drug paraphernalia.” Nelly, whose real name is Cornell Haynes, was charged with felony possession of drugs, simple possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Here is the full statement detailing what happened from the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security:
Tennessee State Trooper Arrests Hip-Hop Artist “Nelly” in Putnam County
Saturday, April 11, 2015 | 06:06 pmNASHVILLE — A Tennessee state trooper arrested internationally known hip-hop artist “Nelly” on felony drug charges in Putnam County on Saturday morning.
Nelly, whose real name is Cornell Haynes, was charged with felony possession of drugs, simple possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.At approximately 9:20 a.m. on Saturday, Trooper Michael Loftis stopped a Prevost motor coach bus on Interstate 40 near the 275 mile marker for failure to display a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and International Fuel Tax Association (IFTA) sticker on the vehicle. The investigating trooper planned to conduct an inspection on the bus when he noticed an odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle.
ABOVE: Image of Nelly’s motor coach as taken directly from the author of this post’s imagination (and from the promotional department at AMC)
Trooper Loftis, assisted by THP Sgt. Donald Jennings, then conducted a probable cause search of the bus. The troopers discovered in the sleeper area a plastic bag that contained five colored crystal-type rocks that tested positive for methamphetamine, as well as a small amount of marijuana and other drug paraphernalia. Further investigation revealed approximately 100 small Ziploc bags that are commonly associated with the sale of narcotics and numerous handguns, including a gold-plated 50-caliber Desert Eagle pistol, a 45-caliber Tarus pistol, and a 500 magnum Smith and Wesson.
The bus was occupied by six subjects, one of whom was identified as Brian Jones, 44, of St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. Jones, a convicted felon, was also in possession of a handgun and was charged accordingly.
Nelly, 40, also of St. Louis, Missouri and Jones, who were traveling to St. Louis when the traffic stop occurred, were transported to the Putnam County Jail.
The weapons and drugs were seized in accordance with state law.
Booking photos may be obtained from the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.
Nelly’s attorney, Scott Rosenblum, later issued this statement about the arrest, insisting that the drugs did not belong to his client:
Nelly was one of several individuals that was on a tour bus that was stopped and searched while traveling through Tennessee. In fact, there had been 15-20 people that had access to the bus prior to the stop. Allegedly, a small quantity of contraband (MDMA aka Molly or Ecstasy) was discovered during the routine search.
We are extremely confident that when the facts come out, Nelly will not be associated with the contraband that was allegedly discovered.
Nelly and Brian Jones were both booked into Putnam County Jail, and each were released early in the evening on Saturday after posting $10,000 bail. Nelly’s next court date is reportedly June 19.
