Rapper DaBaby detained, cited with marijuana possession after concert in North Carolina

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte native and Grammy-nominated rapper DaBaby was arrested Monday night moments after getting off stage in North Carolina.

The rapper, whose real name is Jonathan Kirk, was detained and cited on suspicion of possession of marijuana shortly after he hit the stage for a rescheduled performance at Bojangles Coliseum.

Police said Kirk pulled into the coliseum in a white Dodge Charger and when he went inside to perform, they smelled a “strong odor of marijuana” coming from the car.

According to CMPD, officers then used flashlights to look inside the car windows and spotted marijuana in plain view.

Officers said when Kirk got off stage, they tried to talk to him about the marijuana, but he walked away and refused to talk to them.

Police said Kirk was then put in handcuffs and taken to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office, where he was issued two citations for misdemeanor possession of marijuana and resist, obstruct and delay.

He was later released.

DaBaby was also cited for resisting arrest, a charge he denied. He told WSOC-TV his production team caught the entire exchange on camera and he plans to release the footage later on Instagram.

“So what we got is high-quality audio and video of me doing everything but resisting arrest before they just brought me down here, and we will be airing it out,” he said. “Y’all will see how dirty the (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department) did me during the holidays, in front of my daughter, while I was putting a show on for my city.”

The rapper told WSOC-TV that police illegally searched his car while he was on stage.

His arrest came hours after he partnered with several local groups to make sure hundreds of kids received Christmas presents.

Authorities said they’ve opened an internal affairs investigation to determine whether officers followed department policies and directives during the incident.

© 2019 Cox Media Group