Crime & Arrests

The officer who arrested Offset did NOT do a field sobriety test, despite claiming he observed the rapper crossing a solid yellow line and then smelled weed in the car.

Offset's lawyer believes the traffic stop was bogus and the cop's true intent from the get-go was to search the Porsche he was driving.

It's standard practice in police departments around the country to conduct a field sobriety test when a motorist shows a lack of control over a vehicle and the officer has reason to believe the driver is impaired by either drugs or alcohol.

Law enforcement sources in the Clayton County Police Dept. would not comment specifically on Offset's arrest, but say it's often hard to prove in court that someone is driving under the influence.

Fact is ... the courts are littered with cases where people are convicted based on an officer's observations and a field sobriety test. Cops have the option to arrest the driver, take him or her to the hospital, get a warrant and draw blood. That didn't happen in Offset's case.

A high-ranking source in the Clayton County PD tells TMZ, the officers sometimes simply arrest the driver for weed, but Offset had less than an ounce, which is a petty offense. Driving under the influence is a far more serious offense, so the fact that a field sobriety test wasn't done here opens the door to questioning the validity of the traffic stop.

More trouble for ex-WWE superstar Brian Christopher Lawler -- aka Grandmaster Sexay -- who was arrested for DUI and evading cops in Tennessee earlier this month ... TMZ Sports has learned.

According to official docs obtained by TMZ Sports, cops spotted the 46-year-old pro wrestler speeding and swerving around 1 AM on July 7.

Cops attempted to pull him over, but Lawler failed to stop -- because, according to police, he was trying to make it home.

Once Lawler finally stopped, cops say he reeked of booze and had an open 12 ounce can in his center console. So, they arrested him on the spot.

Lawler -- formerly part of the tag team Too Cool with Scotty 2 Hotty -- was taken to a nearby station where he was booked for DUI and evading arrest. Bail was set at $40,000.

The arrest comes just 1 month after he was busted for allegedly running from a hotel bill in Memphis.

Cardi B is joining the chorus in the rap community over Offset's arrest and subsequent gun charges -- calling it a targeted attack from the hip-hop cops ... and vowing to stick with her man no matter what.

Sources close to the "I Like It" rapper tell us she's squarely in her husband's corner regarding his recent Georgia arrest, for which he was booked on two felony gun charges. We're told she's been echoing Offset's lawyer's claim that he was pulled over for doing nothing more than being a rich, successful black rapper.

Our Cardi sources say she's also been doubling down on what the attorney told us ... that the guns found by police did not belong to Offset, adding he doesn't own any firearms. We're told she doesn't believe he broke any laws.

We broke the story ... police say they pulled Offset over for crossing a double yellow line, but his attorney, Drew Findling, says that was just a bogus excuse to bust him. Cardi agrees.

Oh, and get this ... sources say Cardi's been telling friends she wouldn't leave Offset even if he were sentenced to prison.

Offset's been charged with two felony gun charges as well as some misdemeanors, so the possibility of jail time is certainly there on paper.

Offset got arrested for DWB, and the fact that cops didn't even bother doing a field sobriety test proves it ... so claims the rapper's lawyer.

Attorney Drew Findling tells TMZ he believes the police are lying through their teeth. They claim they stopped him because he crossed a solid yellow line. The arresting officer says when he pulled Offset over he smelled weed. Findling says if that was a legit stop, at the very least the officer would order Offset out of the car to walk the line, yet that didn't happen.

The police report makes no mention of impairment or suspected impairment ... it's completely ignored.

Findling doubled down on what he told TMZ over the weekend ... that his client was targeted because he's a rich, young, black rapper wearing a "big fat watch" and was driving an expensive car. He says the goal was to "take him down."

Former USC wideout Joseph Lewis -- a five-star high school recruit in 2016 -- is facing up to five years in prison after prosecutors charged him with domestic violence ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The L.A. District Attorney's Office filed a felony DV charge against Lewis for his arrest last week -- when he was allegedly involved in a physical altercation with a woman at home.

Lewis pled no contest to a separate alleged domestic violence incident earlier this year and was sentenced to 3 years probation. As a result, Lewis faces a more severe penalty in this case, which includes up to five years in jail and a $10,000 fine.

Offset's argument he's the victim of the so-called "hip-hop cops" just got dealt a serious blow, because police say he was weaving through traffic when they pulled him over ... TMZ has learned.

According to the cops he was pulled over for "failure to maintain lane" because he crossed over the solid yellow line. As for the guns ... cops say there were a total of 3 weapons found. One of them was on his male passenger, a bodyguard ... the other 2 were inside the car.

As we reported, Offset was charged with 2 counts of illegal possession of firearms.

Offset's attorney, Drew Findling, says officers only targeted his client because he's a rich, successful black rapper. Findling claimed cops used the lane change as a thinly veiled excuse to take down Offset, but the police report describes it as more than just an improper lane change.

What's more, Findling says Offset was NOT in possession of any firearm, and adds the guns belonged to the passenger ... who he described as an assistant who is a licensed gun holder.

A member of the band Color Me Badd was arrested Sunday after shoving a bandmate so hard he landed in the hospital.

Bryan K. Abrams was clearly pissed off about something, because after performing a song at del Lago Casino in Tyre, New York, he strutted up to Mark Calderon and, without saying a word, shoved him hard.

An eyewitness tells TMZ Abrams, the lead singer in the group was having a bad night with his voice. He eventually walked off stage he was so frustrated.

Calderon hit some sound equipment on his way to the floor, and was hurt. He was taken to a local hospital and treated for neck and back pain.

As for Abrams, he was arrested for misdemeanor assault, taken to jail where he was booked. His bail was set at $2,000. We don't know if he's posted bail yet.

Offset was unjustly targeted by police because he's successful, wealthy, black and a rapper ... so says his lawyer.

Attorney Drew Findling tells TMZ ... his client broke NO LAWS, and cops used a lane change as a thinly veiled excuse to try and take the rapper down.

Findling, who also reps Gucci Mane, Katt Williams and Trippie Redd, tells us, "It's a common theme. We're talking about a young, African-American man driving a shiny, beautiful luxury car and clad in designer clothes and watches and jewelry."

Findling goes on ... "Unfortunately people in his genre become a target for law enforcement who think that lifestyle is connected to some illegal activity ... and that is a sad statement."

Findling says his client was NOT in possession of any firearm. The attorney says the passenger in Offset's car -- his assistant -- was a licensed gun holder who had firearms in the car for security. Findling notes Offset needs protection because of the large amounts of cash he typically carries and the expensive jewelry he wears.

We broke the story ... Offset was arrested Friday outside of Atlanta after cops say he made an illegal lane change. Police say they found 3 handguns in the car, a small amount of weed and a large amount of cash.

He's been charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a weapon during a crime -- both felonies -- along with possession of weed and an improper lane change.

Offset is a free man again and back home with Cardi B, after posting $17k bail in his gun/drug case.

Offset was released after going in front of a judge at an Atlanta courthouse Saturday morning, appearing on charges he had 3 guns and pot in his vehicle.

The Migos rapper had issues inside the courtroom ... we're told the lights went out and the hearing was held with flashlights. Nonetheless, he made it out ... and Cardi just posted a shot of the both of them back at home.

TMZ broke the story ... Offset -- who is a felon -- was busted outside Atlanta Friday after cops discovered 3 guns and weed in his car during a traffic stop for an illegal lane change.

7/21 7:30 AM PT -- Bail was just set at $17k.

7/21 6:47 AM PT -- Police say Offset had 3 handguns in the vehicle and $107,000.

3:46 PM PT -- Offset was hit with 4 charges ... possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a weapon during a crime -- both felonies -- and possession of marijuana (one ounce or less), and an improper lane change ... both misdemeanors.

The rapper was apparently pulled over for the lane change, not for tinted windows.

Offset is behind bars in Georgia after cops pulled him over and allegedly discovered at least one weapon.

Sources tell us the Migos rapper was traveling just outside Atlanta Friday when the vehicle he was in was pulled over for tinted windows. A witness tells us officers then discovered at least one gun in the car ... a big no-no for Offset, who is a convicted felon.

Offset and Cardi B welcomed their daughter, Kulture, into the world earlier this month ... we're told neither Cardi nor the baby were in the vehicle at the time of Offset's arrest.

We're still working to confirm details with law enforcement.

Conor McGregor is one lucky scofflaw ... because TMZ Sports has learned he's on the verge of striking a deal in his New York City criminal case that will keep him in the U.S. and out of jail.

We've learned Conor's lawyer is in the final stages of negotiating a plea deal in his felony mischief case ... the case that was filed after the UFC champ unleashed his fury by hurling a dolly into a UFC bus, injuring 3 fighters. His target was UFC rival Khabib Nurmagomedov, who was not hurt.

Conor was charged with one count of felony criminal mischief and 3 counts of misdemeanor assault.

Sources familiar with the deal tell us, prosecutors have agreed to reduce the felony to a misdemeanor. That's hugely significant because a felony involving violence could trigger permanent deportation from the U.S.

The Irish bad boy faced 7 years behind bars if convicted, but we've learned prosecutors are agreeable to probation ... NO jail time.

The deal is not finalized, but we're told negotiations are down to the "fine points." If it doesn't fall apart, the deal should be finalized in a matter of days, because Conor is due in a Manhattan court Thursday.

The driver who crashed into Indianapolis Colts player Edwin Jackson in Feb. -- killing the linebacker -- has pled guilty in his DUI case ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The case became a HUGE deal when President Trump tweeted that it was "disgraceful" that Jackson was killed by a man who was in the United States illegally.

Now, we've learned the suspect, 37-year-old Manuel Orrego-Zavala, has pled guilty to 2 counts of "DUI that causes the death of another."

He faces up to 16 years in prison when he's sentenced in September.

As we previously reported, 26-year-old Jackson and his Uber driver were hit by a pickup truck while they were standing on the shoulder of a highway in Indiana.

3 of the 4 suspects in XXXTentacion's murder knew each other and enjoyed flaunting their money together before the rapper was killed ... because there's video proof.

Dedrick Williams, Robert Allen and Trayvon Newsome -- who've all been indicted by a grand jury for first degree murder -- were in an Instagram vid posted by Williams weeks before X was shot to death in S. Florida ... trying to look poppin' while sifting through stacks of big bills.

The fourth murder suspect and alleged gunman, Michael Boatwright, is not seen in the vid.

As we've reported ... Williams and Boatwright have been arrested, but Newsome and Allen are still wanted. Police believe Newsome is a second trigger man.

Police have now named the 2 gunmen they believe killed XXXTentacion, and a grand jury has indicted the alleged gunmen and 2 others for first degree murder.

The Broward County Sheriff's Dept. says Michael Boatwright -- arrested earlier this month -- and Trayvon Newsome were the trigger men in XXX's murder. Newsome is still wanted. The other 2 indicted suspects are Dedrick Williams and Robert Allen.

As we reported, Dedrick was the first taken into custody ... while Allen is still on the lam. In addition to murder, all 4 men were also charged with armed robbery with a firearm.

The man who attacked Pacman Jones appeared in a Georgia courtroom on Tuesday -- in a wheelchair with a busted leg -- and Pacman thought it was HILARIOUS!!!!

Remember, the attacker -- Frank Ragin -- went after the NFL star at the Atlanta International Airport on July 10 and GOT HIS ASS BEAT by Jones ... and it was all captured on video.

Cops said Pacman did nothing wrong -- and properly defended himself -- but they arrested Ragin on 2 counts of battery.

During his court appearance, Ragin was emotional -- burying his head in his hands -- and looked to be in pain.

Afterward, Pacman posted a pic of the guy and wrote, "When you lost the fight ... your job ... your leg and getting found guilty. And that moment you realize you started it all."

Arizona Cardinals GM Steve Keim has pled guilty to an extreme DUI stemming from a July 4th arrest ... and the team has hit him with a 5-week suspension.

As we previously reported, Keim was pulled over in Chandler, AZ after cops said he was swerving in his truck and almost hit a curb while making a turn.

During the stop, Keim told cops he only had 2 beers that evening -- along with some pizza. He refused to take a breathalyzer.

Now, the NFL team has issued a statement saying they've suspended Keim for 5 weeks and hit him with a $200,000 fine. The money will be donated to the AZ chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Keim has apologized for the incident and says, "I fully deserve and accept the punishment that has been issued."