Musician Tyler the Creator (real name Tyler Gregory Okonma) was arrested at the airport in Austin, Texas Saturday and charged with inciting a riot (mug shot photo above). The arrest stems from Tyler’s concert at Scoot Inn Thursday night, which had reached its capacity, resulting in a large crowd outside the venue. Tyler encouraged the fans outside to barge in, yelling at one point, “All y’all outside the gates, y’all push through.”
The crowd did as they were asked and stormed the barricades, resulting in a chaotic scene and apparently at least one injury.
The incident was captured on video, one of which was released by police and shared by TMZ, and another of which was taken by one of those storming the concert and was posted to Youtube:
Inciting a riot is a Class B Misdemeanor, but according to the Texas statute, “an offense under this section is an offense of the same classification as any offense of a higher grade committed by anyone engaged in the riot if the offense was: (1) in the furtherance of the purpose of the assembly.” According to the arrest warrant, a bartender was reportedly punched by a rushing crowd member while trying to protect a girl who had fallen from being trampled, so that elevated the charges against Tyler to a Class A Misdemeanor — the equivalent of the charge for assaulting the bartender.
Here are a couple of photos of Tyler the Creator at the Austin airport:
.@DamesNellas Tyler, The Creator was arrested for allegedly inciting a riot during his show on Thursday at SXSW pic.twitter.com/pVp1o9QTmy
— FLOW 93-5 (@Flow935) March 15, 2014
I saw Tyler the Creator and his crew today! Could only get a creeper pic lol pic.twitter.com/LzpIV2XKAF
— Damian (@duhh_damian) March 15, 2014
Tyler was later released on $3,500 bond (KXAN reports that the bond was later raised to $25,000) and was planning on still making his scheduled performance in Dallas Saturday night. He took to Twitter to update fans on the status of his Dallas concert and to make sure folks realized this incident was completely separate from the incident just after midnight on Wednesday in which allegedly drunk driver Rashad Charjuan Owens drove his car into a crowd while attempting to escape police, killing two and injuring 23 others:
HAI YALL
Dear You, That Tragedy That Happened Has Absolutly NOTHING To Do With The Show At Thrasher At A Different Location A Day Later – T
So Please Stop Going Out Of Your Way To Mention The Tragedy And Tie Me To It, Thats Not Cool And It Bums Me Out
TWO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND DAYS AND EVERYTHING. Yeahhhh
AND DALLAS IS STILL HAPPENING TONIGHT! MIGHT BE A LITTLE LATE BUT LETS GET NASTY AS F**K
Here’s the official press release about Tyler the Creator’s arrest issued by the Austin Police Department followed by the arrest affidavit. Included are photos and transcripts. (If you copy and paste all or part of the transcripts, remember to link back!)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 15, 2014
Contact: Public Information Office, 974-5017
Austin Police make an arrest in SXSW riot incident
The Austin Police Department arrested Tyler Gregory Okonma, AKA, Tyler the Creator, B/M (D.O.B: 03-06-1991) on Saturday, March 15, 2014 without incident. Okonma has been charged with Riot-Class A Misdemeanor, and has a bond of $3,500. The charge stems from an incident that occurred on Thursday March 13, 2014, at a local entertainment veue where the subject encouraged behavior causing an immediate danger and injury to persons. Specifically, the subject encouraged a large crowd on more than one occasion to force themselves past venue employees controlling access at the venue which was already at full capacity.
Regardless of the size of a crowd, the encouragement of unruly and unlawful behavior is against the law and cannot be tolerated.
Attached is a copy of the affidavit, which outlines the specifics of what occurred.
CAUSE NUMBER: C-1CR-14-500328
AFFIDAVIT FOR WARRANT OF ARREST AND DETENTION
The undersigned Affiant, who after being duly sworn by me, on oath, makes the following statement: I have good reason to believe and so do believe that:
TYLER GREGORY OKONMA B/M 03/06/1991
On or about the 13 day of MARCH 2014, in the incorporated limits of the City of Austin, County of Travis, Texas, did then and there commit the offense of:
RIOT – CLASS A MISDEMEANOR
Your affiant is Austin Police Detective W. Lyons #5936 who is employed by the Austin Police Department and has approximately 7 years of law enforcement experience. Information contained in this affidavit was obtained from Officer Perez #6676 and Officer O’Farrell #5948 and contained in Austin Police offense report 14-0721336.
Officer Perez and Officer O’Farrell both stated to Det Lyons that they were assigned to a Unified Command Public Assembly Code Enforcement (PACE) Team for escort during the SXSW events taking place in Downtown Austin, TX. The officers stated they were assigned to assist the PACE team with enforcing city code on occupants inside establishments for public safety reasons in the entertainment district.
Officer stated to Det Lyons that the Pace team received a call for service at the Scoot Inn located at 1308 E 4th St due to possible overcrowding. Officer Perez and O’Farrell stated to Det Lyons they arrived at the scene with the Pace team and observed a large crowd. Officers stated the establishment was at capacity with 999 people inside. Officers stated to Det Lyons that the employees who were assigned to work the door for the Scoot Inn were allowing 1 person inside as 1 person exited the establishment. At this time, Officer Perez and O’Farrell walked inside of the establishment to check the area and observed the performer “TYLER THE CREATOR” onstage. The officers stated to Det Lyons that at that moment, “TYLER THE CREATOR” yelled out to the large crowd of people waiting in line outside the building “ALL YOU OUTSIDE THE GATES YALL PUSH THROUGH.” (This warrant transcribe by starcasm.net) At that time, Officer Perez and OFarrell stated the crowd waiting in line outside started to try to push the employees working the door out of the way, but hesitated. The officers also stated the employees working the door then immediately attempted to secure the doors and close them and that is when “TYLER THE CREATOR” yelled out again to the large crowd who were now becoming unruly and enraged “YALL PUSH THROUGH GET IN COME ON.” At this time, the Officers stated they observed the ;arge crowd push through the employees working the door which created an immediate danger of injury to persons. Officers then stated the performer “TYLER THE CREATOR” began apologizing then cursing at the employees working the door before he exited the stage. Officers stated after the “riot” dispersed, they made contact with a bartender who is an employee of the Scoot Inn and he was identified as Mylan, Thomas. Officers stated Thomas made a statement to them that during the “Riot” he held several people back so one girl who fell to the ground would not get trampled. Officers stated Thomas then told them that while he was trying to protect the girls who fell he was punched by an unknown male subject to the left side of his face which caused him pain. Officers stated they could not locate the suspect due to the large amount of people at the establishment. Officer Perez and O’Farrell stated they called for more officers to respond to the scene and that is when the crowd dispersed.
In Sec 42.02 of the Penal “Riot” is listed as a Class B Misdemeanor. (F) an offense under this section is an offense of the same classification as any offense of a higher grade committed by anyone engaged in the riot if the offense was: (1) in the furtherance of the purpose of the assembly. In this case the bartender: Mylan, Thomas who is an employee of the Scoot Inn was punched to the left side of his face which caused him pain. This constitutes an Assault W/Injury a Class A Misdemeanor offense. This enhances the Class B Classification of “Riot” to the high grade Class A Misdemeanor. “TYLER THE CREATOR” was identified as : TYLER GREGORY OKONMA B/M 03/06/1991
