Nelly arrested in Missouri for alleged ecstasy possession

Rapper Nelly was arrested in the St. Louis area after allegedly possessing ecstasy and not having insurance.

The 49-year-old reportedly was arrested in Maryland Heights, Missouri at around 4:45 am on Wednesday and taken to the Maryland Heights Police Department. Nelly, real name Cornell Haynes Jr, was later released.

According to Fox 2 Now , he was arrested by the Missouri State Highway Patrol after he was pulled over and authorities found four ecstasy pills in the car and he was driving without any car insurance. The rapper also had a failure to appear warrant from 2018 from Maryland Heights, which is a suburb outside St Louis where the rapper hails from.

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In his mugshot, Nelly appeared to have bloodshot eyes as he stared at the camera wearing a black hoodie. It's unclear at the moment when or if he has to appear in court for the charges.

This past April, singer Ashanti announced she was pregnant with her and Nelly's first child together and that the couple were engaged. The two first dated for a decade from 2003 to 2013 and then were spotted back together last year.

Last month, it was revealed that Nelly and Ashanti actually got married in December 2023. The two kept their decade-long relationship private, with Ashanti only confirming their long-term relationship two years after it ended in 2015.

Nelly has two children from previous relationships, Cornell Hayes III and Chanelle. He also adopted his stepsister Jaqueline Donahue's two children - Shawn and Sydney Thomas - after Jaqueline died of leukemia on March 25, 2005.

Speaking to Essence about her pregnancy, Ashanti said: "This new year of my life is such a blessing full of love, hope, and anticipation. Motherhood is something that I have looked forward to, and sharing this with my family, fiancé, and loyal fans, who have been so supportive of my career, is an amazing experience."

Nelly is best known for his songs Country Grammar, Hot in Herre, and Dilemma featuring Kelly Rowland.

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