Nelly’s Attorney Speaks Out — Says Rapper Was ‘Targeted By An Overzealous, Out Of Line Officer’ During Suspected Drug Arrest

Rapper Nelly was arrested early Wednesday morning in Maryland Heights, an outer suburb of St. Louis, Missour for not having proof of car insurance, which led to allegations of drug possession.

While at a casino, where he frequently entertains and has won several jackpots, Nelly was flagged due to an outstanding warrant that surfaced during a background check for his winnings. An officer found a warrant for a no proof of insurance infraction, resulting in Nelly being handcuffed and searched, which led to the discovery of four pills. A preliminary investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol tentatively identified the pills as ecstasy.

Nelly’s attorney, Scott Rosenblum , has since released a statement to clarify the situation. He told the Daily Mail that Nelly “was not charged with drug possession,” and that the rapper’s arrest stemmed from a warrant issued in December 2023 for a 2018 no proof of insurance violation, which Nelly had not been notified about.

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Rosenblum described Nelly, 49, as having been “targeted by an overzealous, out-of-line officer” after winning several jackpots. He criticized the officer for running a warrant check, stating, “Instead of just supervising the transfer of [Nelly’s] winnings, [the officer] felt compelled to needlessly check for warrants.” He noted that Nelly had previously won similar or greater amounts without incident.

The attorney suggested that the officer’s actions were influenced by Nelly’s fame, explaining that the officer chose to handcuff him and parade him through the casino in front of patrons. He added that under similar circumstances, any other individual would have been allowed to address the issue without being detained.

Rosenblum expressed confidence that the case would not proceed and indicated that his firm would seek an inquiry into the officer’s conduct.

Nelly, who is expecting a child with Ashanti, has not yet made a public statement regarding his recent arrest.

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