Hip-hop artist Nelly, born Cornell Iral Haynes Jr., was arrested early Wednesday morning in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. The Grammy-winning singer was charged with possession of a controlled substance after four ecstasy pills were found on him during a search.
The arrest occurred at Hollywood Casino St. Louis, where Nelly had visited to enjoy a night out. According to an online report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP), an officer conducted a routine background check on Nelly and discovered that he had an outstanding traffic warrant. During the search that followed, authorities found the ecstasy pills.
Following the incident, the 49-year-old rapper was released from custody. Nelly’s attorney, Scott Rosenblum, made a statement claiming the singer was unfairly targeted by the officer after he had won several jackpots at the casino. Rosenblum criticized the officer’s actions, alleging that the search was conducted without probable cause and that Nelly was unnecessarily paraded through the casino in handcuffs.
Despite the arrest, Nelly’s personal life is in a happy chapter. In December 2023, he married long-time partner and fellow R&B artist Ashanti, and the couple is also expecting their first child together.
Rosenblum expressed confidence that the case would be dismissed and said they would seek an inquiry into the officer’s conduct.
