Celebrity Justice
Police Sting?

Is it more likely that Sting wrote "Roxanne" about French prostitutes while traveling in Paris ... or in the basement of his Reno home with a guy he met at a restaurant? Wait, don't answer that yet.
Read the docs
According to a police report filed by Roy Smith, Sting heard him singing at Molly's Garden Restaurant back in 1977 (or 1978, Smith can't quite remember), thought he was good, and asked him to hang out.

They stopped at a 7-Eleven for beer (Sting, at a 7-Eleven?) and hung out for hours in Sting's basement. During that time, Smith told Sting about an ex-girlfriend of his named Roxanne, who was a prostitute. Smith also explained how after his father died, he wrote his mom messages, which he put in a bottle. Just like in the song! Oh, right ...

Smith claims Sting agreed to give him royalties for the songs, but never did. Here is the best part -- Smith claims Sting tried to contact him, through his mom, but she didn't pass along the messages because she thought the real police were after her son!

Smith has contacted Sting's lawyers, who deny all the allegations. He also filed a report with the Reno P.D. last month. The fuzz tells TMZ, "Initial review of the report indicates that the statute of limitations of any potential crime in this matter has expired. The alleged victim may have to pursue the matter through civil litigation." Good luck.

Reader Comments

(Page 4 of 5) Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

46. When I told him my father died while taking a dump, he wrote "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da".

Posted at 10:19PM on Apr 17th 2008 by Roy Smith.

47. This story is not believable. It is quite obvious that this person needs mental health counseling.

Posted at 11:04PM on Apr 17th 2008 by jxtr

48. Seriously, if the guy sue Sting because Sting used his story for a song, then watch out the lawsuits that will be coming for the head of McCartney, Lennon, Vedder, and the rest of the artists in the world.

Most of them inspire themsleves off of stories they heard, read, seen, or lived... That's why Sting is a composer, and Smith is a boozer...

I mean what next, I'll sue Shaquille O'neil because he has the same counter tops I have at home, but I had it 2 years before he did!! And I have proof, because they went on MTV Cribs and I saw that he ripped me off!!! POSER!

These lawsuits are just ridiculous. And what if Sting actually wrote his song off of the story he heard from te Smith guy? The guy should be flattered that his story was told and will be recorded in history! I mean he could've just contacted Sting's management firm and said, "I would like to have my five minutes of fame, ask Sting if he remembers me, I'm the guy that lived the Roxanne song, I would appreciate if he could mention that he was also inspired by my story..."

Might have done nothing, might've had his 15 minutes of fame in a good way... We'll never know..

Posted at 7:13PM on Apr 25th 2008 by Freefinger

49. This is so stupid! Did this drunkard just climb out of his basement to learn these songs were written? Hellooooo... not new news buck! Even if this claim is legit (not), and Mr. Summner did use these tidbits to write some songs...big deal. Mr. Basement dweller surely didn't write any songs about them! Geesh, maybe all of us girls who wore something red in, or prior to, 1987 should go after Chris DeBurgh for royalities from that ditty. Who's with me???????

Posted at 12:20PM on Apr 18th 2008 by whatzup

50. 49th... anyone still care?

Posted at 3:37PM on Apr 18th 2008 by jenzeee

51. 50th... Helloooo

Posted at 3:41PM on Apr 18th 2008 by jenzeee

52. Don't hate the player, hate the game thats being played on Roy.

Posted at 8:42AM on Apr 20th 2008 by its mine hs ya daddy bit..

53. My name is Heather White. Roy Smith happens to be my dad. And all of
his story is true. Every last bit of it. Hes taken lie detector tests
and everything. Everything that is on this website i have been
hearing
all my life. He didnt wait 30 years to sue Sting, he has been
fighting
this for well over my whole life pretty much and its all finally
coming together the way it should. So to all of you who dont believe
Email me at SEminemforlife@aol.com and I will send you PROOF!

Posted at 1:33PM on Apr 20th 2008 by heather white

54. I work in a store where Roy visits .. as recently as this week. I have talked to him several times but not about this incident. He has talked to other people about this in my store and they think its credible... if not a little weird. Roy is a nice guy and doesnt seem to be broke and wears clean clothes, etc.

Posted at 1:03AM on Apr 21st 2008 by andre

55. Hello, my name is Hediye Henderson I am from Reno, Nevada. I personally know Roy Smith he is actually a very good friend of mine... Ive lived in Reno for 15 years As a matter of fact my mother, met Roy at the Fitzgeralds Casino in Reno, Nevada he was the cook at the restaurant and she was a waitress. Anyways i just wanted to get the message across America for everybody to know, believe it or not yes, it has been 30 years and he has been trying, fighting and getting this resolved. Theres a lot more
to a picture that meets the eye c'mon guys give Roy some slack... Wait till you hear the dirt and details that go along with this
ongoing pursuit its quite an interesting one, and this aint the end of it either, I know Roy and what kind of person he is, hes definitely a hard-working honest individual that wont give up... to be continued...........

p.s.tune back in tomorrow for more highlights and i will post pictures and some more info....

Posted at 8:54PM on Apr 21st 2008 by Hediye Henderson

56. hello, i also reside in Reno, NV and am a firm believer of Roy's case. These kinds of cases do not surprise me in the least and can see this actually being true. i am no big fan of "sting" but have nothing against him either. but he should've paid Roy's half when he was getting "big" and much more popular. But i think it is also wise of Roy to have waited this long, because now that Sting has made billions off of those 2 hits "Roxanne" and "message in a bottle" Roy still to this day as in 1978 deserves his creditability for the songs he wrote. it doesnt matter it took 30 yrs to come to this, it doesnt change the fact that Roy wrote these songs and sting got popular off of them, in the 70's. where would sting be now if it werent for Roy's songs? probably not as big and popular thats for sure. GOOD LUCK ROY IM ROOTIN FOR YA.

Posted at 8:53PM on Apr 21st 2008 by sUZY

57. So did Mr. Smith meet Sting in Reno, or in England. I wonder since his biography and autobiography both say he did not visit America until 1979 when Stewart Copeland's older brother, who was managing them, booked them on a short American tour that started with an appearance at CBGB's. The numerous postings from "friends" and "family" of Mr Smith are so touching. Since most of them appear to be written in the same style and with the exact same grammatical errors. If Sting really did steal the songs, why wouldn't he give Mr Smith some money just to shut him up? And why would Mr. Smith write a song about prostitutes not having to "turn on the red light", when that was something that only was common in Europe. Not in Reno, where prostitution is not legal within the city, only in counties other that where Reno and Las Vegas are located. A prostitute in Reno would not have a "red light" as it would stand out and police would come arrest her. And where did you toss the "message in a bottle", in the Truckee River to end up in Pyramid Lake? People who actually live in Northern Nevada see the holes inthis story that a dog could be thrown through. Why don't you get Ken McKenna to take your case, Mr. Smith? He is known as an attorney who will do just about anything to get his name in the newspaper?

Posted at 10:49PM on Apr 22nd 2008 by belfastbelle

58. I have not seen ROY in the last few days but if I see him I add some comments. He should add some himself but maybe he's busy.

Posted at 1:36AM on Apr 22nd 2008 by andre

59. to belfastbelle the only thing with a hole in it is your mouth that your own DOG HAS ALREADY TAKEN A HUGE DIERIEA CRAP IN. BECAUSE WE CAN ALL SEE THE JELISOUIE THAT IS RUNNING DOWN YOUR CHIN , & ALL THE WAY TO YOUR VERY OWN VAGINA. DUD OR DUDET WITCH ARE YOU . I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT YOU ARE BLEADING CRAP. RED LIGHTS AREGINITED IN HORE HOUSES IN NEVADA ITS OBIVIOUS THAT BELFASTBELLE HAS NEVER LIVED IN NEVADA OR THE HE/SHE WOULD KNOW THAT P.S MR. SMITH HAS PASSED 3 CIA ISUED POLYGRAPHS PLUS #S #S OF INCRIMINATING EVEDINCE THAT CRAP IN YOUR MOUTH, YOU ALL HAVENTENT EVEN SEEN YET .TO YOU GORDON MATHEW SOMNER A/K/A/P/K/A/ ( STING) PUT YOUR MONEY WERE YOUR MOUTH IS . PASS JUST ONE POLYGRAPH IT CAN BE THE EASYEST ONE. NOT THE FBI OR THE CIA. BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN PASS THE SIMPLEST POLYGRAPH . YES IT IS A OPEN CHALANGE TO YOU STING . OH THATS RIGHT I HAVE ALL READY REQUESTED THAT OF YOU WITH KATHRYN SCHENKER YOUR MANAGENT.. BUT YOU REFUSED. PLEASE GET ONE OF YOUR LITTLE BIT**ES TO SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC FOR YOU. THE TRUTH IS ABOUT TO HIT THE FAN

Posted at 5:27AM on Apr 22nd 2008 by its mine hs ya daddy bit..

60. TO THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T HAVE STING'S CONTACT NUMBERS GET YOUR PEN'S READY................. KATHRYN SCHENKER.KSM inc, 1776 broadway ste 1001,NEW YORK NEW YORK 1OO19 FAX:1-212-777-5145 OFFICE# 1-212-777-5110 NEXT NUMBERS EMAIL aderosa@gispc.com DIRECT LINE 1-212-554-0418 OR 1-212-554-0461 FAX 1-212-554-0444 THAT'S ALISA S, DEROSA THATS ALL FOR NOW FOLKS SINGED DOES THE TRUTH HURT

Posted at 5:52AM on Apr 22nd 2008 by its mine hs ya daddy bit..

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