Crime & Arrests

12:28 PM PT -- Contrary to the police report saying ATF was the arresting agency, 21's attorney, Alex Spiro, says, "ICE has confirmed he was targeted for immigration enforcement and nothing more. He was never arrested by the police, and some other individual's firearm and vehicle is not our concern here."

10:56 AM PT -- 21's attorney, Brian Steel, tells us both the Glock and the Dodge the rapper was driving are not his ... Steel would not specify who they belonged to.

21 Savage was driving recklessly and on a path to slam into a fully-marked cop car and that's why he was pulled over on the day he was taken into custody, and it looks like cops believe he was in possession of a fully loaded Glock ... this according to the police report.

TMZ has obtained 3 police reports which chronicle the events that led to the rapper being hauled into custody on the day of the Super Bowl.

According to the docs, 21 Savage was in a red Dodge Challenger that cops say drove across the sidewalk in an attempt to get onto another street. The cops pulled the car over and ATF agents -- who were also on scene -- ordered 21 to stop and throw the keys out the window. According to the report, 21 threw the keys out, along with a bottle containing an unknown substance.

21 got out of the car and was immediately handcuffed and taken away by ATF. The police report has an evidence inventory section and lists the firearm -- the fully loaded Glock -- as connected to 21 Savage. The gun was found in the glove box in the Dodge 21 was driving. It had an extended magazine.

In the center console, there was a styrofoam cup containing an unknown substance. As for the bottle that was thrown out of the car ... cops don't say what was in it but it was taken into evidence.

What's unclear ... how ICE got involved. We had been previously told ICE directly took 21 Savage into custody at the scene, but according to the various documents, there were a variety of law enforcement agencies involved -- DeKalb K-9 Unit, Vice Unit, Narcotics Unit, ATF, Georgia State Patrol and the DeKalb 90 Unit ... but no mention of ICE. A source at ATF tells ICE was there, but for some reason, the agency is not listed on the report.

And, the documents say the target of the operation was actually another rapper -- Young Nudy -- who was in a separate car driving alongside of 21 Savage.

There were actually 3 cars involved in the arrest and cops say all of the people inside were connected. One guy -- Kalil Smith, who was in a different car from Savage -- was driving with an M4 rifle in the floorboard with the muzzle pointed in the direction of the officer.

As we reported, 21 Savage is in the custody of ICE, which is initiating deportation proceedings.

Bow Wow's girlfriend claims the rapper hit her several times, took her phone and refused to let her out of a bedroom during the 911 call she made to cops.

In the call -- obtained by TMZ -- a distraught Kiyomi Leslie Holden tells the operator she was assaulted by Bow Wow and fled his apartment to make the call. Kiyomi Leslie claims cops showed up for a previous disturbance before the actual arrest, but Bow Wow and two of his friends refused to let her out of a bedroom to speak with officers.

An additional 911 call was made by the apartment building's manager who claimed a resident called her to complain about the fight. The resident allegedly heard a male voice saying he would, "Slap the f*** out of this bitch."

As we reported ... Bow Wow was arrested in Atlanta early Saturday morning for striking Kiyomi Leslie, but Kiyomi Leslie was also arrested for hitting him.

4:23 PM PT -- This is a little complicated, but here's why 21 Savage's lawyer applied for a U-Visa 4 years ago. The application was submitted just after a judge vacated his drug conviction, and they felt they were eligible for legal status. That application fell into an abyss -- it was neither approved nor rejected. So in 2017, 21 Savage reapplied for a U-Visa and it has been pending ever since.

What's more ... there is solid law suggesting ICE had to release the rapper on bond, rather than keep him in custody.

Jay-Z is coming to the defense of 21 Savage, slamming his arrest by ICE and throwing some major support his way ... including help with his upcoming legal battle.

The hip-hop mogul calls the arrest and detention of the "Bank Account" rapper "an absolute travesty" ... and points out his U Visa application has been pending for years.

Jay says ... "In addition to being a successful recording artist, 21 deserves to be reunited with his children immediately."

Also, even though Savage isn't a Roc Nation artist, Jay-Z's company has responded to what it calls a "matter of injustice" by hiring attorney Alex Spiro to assist with his case.

Spiro tells TMZ, "We are not going to stop until he is released, bonded out or in front of a judge ... What we have here is someone who overstayed their Visa with an application pending for 4 years - not a convicted criminal that needs to be detained and removed but, by all accounts a wonderful person, father, and entertainer who has a marijuana offense which was vacated and sealed."

We're told 21 actually had a U Visa permit pending for 4 years before he reapplied for one in 2017, which -- as we reported -- may have led to a background check that discovered his visa was expired and triggered his arrest.

21 Savage thinks it's more nefarious than that, though -- he believes ICE arrested him early Sunday morning in Atlanta as revenge for his new music that slammed the behavior of immigration officials.

Antonio Brown says his baby mama is a liar who's caused "irreparable harm" to their daughter by falsely accusing him of domestic violence ... and says he's now seeking full custody of the kid.

TMZ Sports spoke with Brown's attorney, Darren Heitner, who says the allegation that Brown shoved his 30-year-old baby mama during a January altercation is completely false ... despite what the woman initially told cops.

As we previously reported, the woman told police she had been at Brown's home on January 17 to drop off their daughter ... and that's when things went sideways.

Brown's attorney claims the NFL star is concerned with the woman's behavior and decision to include the child in the police report ... so now he'll fight for full custody of their child.

"The complainant unnecessarily involved my client’s minor child in her false reporting, causing irreparable harm to a minor child," Heitner says.

"Therefore, Antonio Brown’s family law attorney, Jaclyn Soroka, Esq. will be filing an action with the Court today, seeking full legal custody of his child accordingly."

Jussie Smollett is back to work in Chicago on the set of "Empire," and detectives want to chat with the actor while he's in town ... TMZ has learned.

A production source tells us Smollett flew back into the Windy City Sunday, after his weekend show in Los Angeles. We're told Smollett shot scenes for one of the final episodes of the season Monday and did a table read with the cast Tuesday ... security was present the entire time.

Law enforcement sources tell us cops want to speak with Jussie while he's in town as part of their ongoing investigation.

As for where he's staying while in town ... a source close to Jussie tells us he's back at the same apartment complex where he was living at the time of the attack.

Jussie made his first public appearance at a concert at the Troubadour in Los Angeles Saturday, where he very proudly stated, "I couldn't let those motherf*****s win!" The show was supposed to have a meet and greet, which was canceled due to security concerns.

Police revealed Monday they've found additional surveillance footage surrounding the time leading up to and after the incident ... but the new video hasn't been released. Our sources say cops have not found any video of the attack or anyone fleeing after the attack.

A$AP Rocky says there's no shame in 21 Savage's true birthplace ... because he's totally down with his brothers from across the pond!!!

We got A$AP at LAX Tuesday, and you gotta hear him professing his love for all things British ... including his fellow rapper.

As you know, it's been revealed that 21 Savage was actually born in the United Kingdom -- despite him repping the ATL -- with the truth coming out after he was taken into custody by ICE for possible removal from the U.S.

It's interesting ... A$AP and 21 have collab'd on songs in the past, and A$AP says he too had no clue he was working with a Brit.

As for 21's ongoing detention ... A$AP says he's hopeful his friend will soon be walking the streets in Atlanta again.

Rapper Blueface says he can point cops in the right direction to prove he's innocent.

Blueface's manager, Wack 100, tells TMZ ... Blueface never had a gun when cops busted his posse last week in downtown L.A. and, for good measure, says there should be plenty of surveillance footage to prove it.

What's more ... Wack says if investigators check for Blueface's prints against the guns cops recovered ... they WON'T find his fingerprints on any of the weapons.

TMZ broke the story ... law enforcement sources told us Blueface and his crew scattered and tossed their guns away after LAPD rolled up on them. But, Wack says Blueface was actually sitting in his car before cops told him to get out. He was arrested for felony possession of carrying a loaded firearm.

We're told the man behind the Bust Down dance craze wants to put this episode behind him and focus on music ... especially because Wack insists Blueface had no knowledge of anyone packing heat.

Wack says Blueface, who is out on bail, did wanna give cops props for this -- they drove his expensive ride from where the bust went down ... and parked it near the station to keep it away from car thieves.

21 Savage and his people believe his arrest by ICE may be motivated by revenge ... revenge for his new music that condemned the behavior of immigration officials.

21's people just released a stinging statement in which they clearly think ICE's motives are corrupt ... "Many have speculated as to possible ulterior motives for his arrest and detention, including that he released music five days prior to his arrest by ICE, which included new lyrics condemning the behavior of immigration officials for their detention of children at the border."

The song in question, "A Lot," has the following lyrics ... "Been through some things so I can't imagine my kids stuck at the border. Flint still need water. People was innocent, couldn't get lawyers." He performed it on 'The Tonight Show' with Jimmy Fallon at the end of Jan.

The statement also says ICE knew how to find 21 Savage since 2017, when he applied for a U-Visa and gave his address. So the insinuation ... they weren't going to arrest him until they got pissed off by the new song.

As we reported ... 21 Savage was picked up by ICE early Sunday morning in Atlanta and taken into custody for possible removal from the U.S. We learned the arrest may have been triggered by the rapper applying for a U-Visa ... which led to a background check that discovered his visa had expired.

An ICE agent claimed 21 has been living a totally false public persona ... and had overstayed his visa.

Savage's manager says since he got busted, he's been spending 23 hours a day in lockup, with his only communication being 10-minute phone calls.

3:30 PM PT -- TMZ Sports has obtained the mug shot from Young's DWI arrest.

Vince Young was arrested for DWI in Texas on Monday morning ... TMZ Sports has learned.

According to police records, the 35-year-old ex-NFL quarterback was busted in Fort Bend County.

One source familiar with the case tells us Young was pulled over around 4 AM. Records show he was booked into Fort Bend County Jail but posted bond and was released.

We've reached out to Young's camp for comment -- so far, no word back.

It's not the first time Young has been busted for drunk driving -- back in 2016, the former University of Texas star was arrested for DUI after cops say he was driving dangerously in Austin.

Young pled no contest in his 2016 case and was sentenced to 18 months probation. He later apologized to his fans and said he "understood the seriousness of the situation."

TMZ Sports obtained the police footage from the 2016 arrest which shows Young refusing the field sobriety tests and getting frustrated with arresting officers ... at one point saying, "Are we going to jail or not?"

Young was selected by the Tennessee Titans with the 3rd overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft and went on to win the NFL's Rookie of the Year award. He was a 2-time Pro Bowl selection and last played with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2011.

21 Savage never hid the fact that he was in the U.S. illegally, and ICE is now trying to intimidate him into leaving the country he calls home ... this according to his lawyer.

Attorney Charles H. Kuck just delivered a blistering attack on the federal agency that arrested 21 Savage Sunday and is holding him for deportation proceedings.

Kuck says his client actually applied for a U-Visa back in 2017 and the application is pending, and ICE has known about it yet took no action until this weekend.

The attorney also takes aim at ICE for putting it out there that 21 Savage has prior criminal charges, suggesting he does not. Point of fact -- Savage pled guilty to felony drug possession back in 2014, but that conviction was expunged last September.

Kuck slams ICE for detaining his client, claiming he is not a threat to his community nor is he a flight risk ... he also has children here.

And, the attorney goes on ... "As a minor, his family overstayed their work visas, and he, like almost two million other children, was left without legal status through no fault of his own." Kuck says his client has "U.S. citizen children" whom he supports and is eligible for relief from deportation.

The attorney accuses ICE of trying to "unnecessarily punish him," claiming the agency is trying "to intimidate him into giving up his right to fight to remain in the United States."

Now, this is interesting ... Kuck says the Visa 21 Savage applied for is based on him being a victim of crime. Kuck tells TMZ, 21 Savage was shot during a 2013 incident where his best friend was murdered. Kuck says he was "severely affected physically and mentally." He goes on to say being a crime victim puts 21 Savage in a position for permanent residence.

Bow Wow and his GF were in a knock-down, drag-out brawl before they both got arrested ... according to cops.

Kiyomi Leslie Holden called Atlanta PD around 4 AM Saturday to report Bow Wow for assault. She told officers on the scene the whole fight started when they got home from a party. Kiyomi Leslie -- who appears on "Growing Up Hip Hop" -- claims Bow Wow was pissed she was talking to another man at the party, and lit into her about it when they got home.

In the police report, obtained by TMZ, Kiyomi Leslie says Bow Wow hit her in the head, pulled her by the hair, dragged her from her bedroom ... and told her to get the hell out.

For his part, Bow Wow acknowledged being pissed about the other guy ... telling cops she "disrespected him" by hanging "all over another man's body." He claims Kiyomi Leslie called him a "bitch ass n***er" when he complained about her behavior.

He claims he merely told Leslie to leave their home, and placed her bags by the door. He claims Kiyomi Leslie "grabbed a night stand lamp and threw it at him." He says she missed with the lamp, but scratched the hell out of his face ... which is obvious in his mug shot.

An officer on the scene says he saw the lamp on the ground when he entered the bedroom. Cops observed red marks on Kiyomi Leslie's fingers as well as broken fingernails.

TMZ broke the story ... Bow Wow and Kiyomi Leslie were arrested and booked for battery. Kiyomi Leslie says she broke 3 ribs during the brawl.

Sharon Tate's flesh and blood is not down with the California Parole Board's recommendation to free Manson Family member Leslie Van Houten, but she's hopeful Cali's new Governor will do the right thing.

Debra Tate, Sharon's sister, tells TMZ ... says it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the "Manson Family" killer was evasive and coached during her parole hearing. The Board said Thursday members feel she's been rehabilitated and deserves to be freed.

69-year-old Van Houten murdered Rosemary and Leno LaBianca back in 1969, the day after the slaughter at Sharon Tate's house.

Debra's asking the California Governor, Gavin Newsom, to "do the right thing" and put the kibosh on her parole.

Newsom's predecessor, Jerry Brown, reversed the parole board's recommendation that Van Houten be released last year, just as he did in 2016.

Debra also once again applauds Quentin Tarantino's upcoming film, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" ... which centers around the Manson Family murders of her sibling and her friends.

She tells us she fully endorses the project -- in which she's been heavily involved -- and encourages people to see it for themselves ... because it's not what you think.

Famous Dex says the fan who tried stealing a 44-seat airplane to fly himself to see the rapper in concert attempted, hands down, the craziest thing ANYONE has ever done to see him live ... so, he's hooking him up.

A little backstory ... Zemarcuis Scott, a teenager from Texarkana, AR, was busted last Fourth of July after cops say he broke into an American Eagle twin-engine jet at Texarkana Regional Airport with the intention to fly himself to see Dex perform in Illinois.

Cops found Scott sitting in the pilot's seat and said he wasn't worried about having zero flying experience ... because it looked simple. Earlier this week ... Scott pled guilty to attempting to steal a commercial jet and avoided jail time with 5 years of felony probation.

Enter, Famous Dex ... who thought the story was a hoax when he first heard about it, but now wants the fan to go through fewer hassles ... by flying him to one of his concerts, and then some.

21 Savage was arrested in Atlanta this weekend and taken into custody for possible removal from the U.S.

21 Savage was picked up by ICE early Sunday morning. He apparently entered the U.S. legally in 2005 but his visa expired and he reportedly is here illegally.

He reportedly is being held for removal proceedings ... this for being in the country illegally and for being a felon. He was convicted of drug charges in 2014.

His attorney, Dina LaPolt, tells TMZ, "We are working diligently to get Mr. Abraham-Joseph out of detention while we work with authorities to clear up any misunderstanding. Mr. Abraham-Joseph is a role model to the young people in the country -- especially in Atlanta, Georgia and is actively working in the community leading programs to help underprivileged youths in financial literacy."

An ICE spokesperson says 21 Sav -- real name Sha Yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph -- is a U.K. national who is unlawfully in the country and has been since 2006 when his visa expired. They say he came to the States a year earlier at the age of 12.

The spox goes on to say that Sav is currently in ICE custody in Georgia and that he's been placed into removal proceedings before the federal immigration courts. They add that ICE will await the outcome of his case before a judge to determine future actions.

Bow Wow was more than willing to talk after his arrest Saturday morning for allegedly beating a woman ... but what he wants to talk about has nothing to do with the incident.

We got Bow Wow Saturday night leaving Magic City Strip Club in ATL and he said on the advice of his lawyer he couldn't say anything about the incident.

As TMZ reported ... Bow Wow and the woman were both arrested after they allegedly got in some sort of physical altercation at 4:15 AM Saturday in Atlanta. The woman claimed Bow Wow assaulted her. He claimed it was the opposite.

Bow Wow was booked for Battery with Substantial Physical Harm ... despite the fact cops told us the injuries were "minor." He was released on $8k bail.

Before Rams players headed for Atlanta to prepare for their Super Bowl 53 matchup against the Patriots, they got some advice from the NFL -- protect your homes in L.A.

Our NFL sources tell us ... officials spoke with several players and coaches on the Rams who live in the Los Angeles area and suggested they take steps to ensure their homes are safe from potential burglars while they are out of town.

We're told they offered tips like having someone house-sit, parking an extra car in the driveway, adding alarms and surveillance, or even hiring security guards for the days they'll be away.

Other sources tell us many players heeded the NFL's advice by upgrading their home security systems and some indeed hired staff at their residences ... including private armed security and retired cops.

As you may know ... L.A. and the San Fernando Valley have seen a string of burglaries over the past couple of years, especially at the houses of celebs and famous athletes. In fact, Rams WR Robert Woods is on that list.

10 gang members were charged in connection with burglaries at more than 24 homes in late November, and cops say the break-in at Woods' pad -- while he was playing "Thursday Night Football" -- was a key to cracking the case.

This burglary crew allegedly also targeted stars like Rihanna, LeBron James, Yasiel Puig and Viola Davis.