Crime & Arrests

The man who showed up at Demi Lovato's home and allegedly smoked drugs with her hours before her OD is no stranger to the law -- cops nabbed him in a huge bust one month before he connected with the singer.

Brandon Johnson was arrested back in March with a stash of guns, drugs and cash ... according to law enforcement. When cops picked him up in North Hollywood he allegedly had narcotics, a fully loaded semi-automatic handgun and $10k in his pocket.

Officers then searched Johnson's home and say they discovered more guns, drugs and ammo. He was also arrested in June and charged with DUI and possession of cocaine.

TMZ broke the story ... Demi had been in contact with Johnson since April, and sources say he had supplied her with drugs.

We're also told Johnson is the man Demi texted to come over at 4 AM the morning she overdosed after freebasing Oxycodone potentially laced with fentanyl.

A source connected to Brandon tells us he's been telling friends he and Demi have had a "romantic relationship" but other sources say there was no romantic relationship. We're also told he denies "dealing" her drugs.

11:13 AM PT -- We've obtained the 911 calls from the incident ... and Tarver can be heard asking to have Aziya escorted off his property before the alleged scuffle breaks out.

A neighbor also called 911, saying Aziya showed up on her doorstep with a bloody face ... claiming Tarver punched him in the mouth.

Ex-boxing superstar Antonio Tarver was arrested Monday for domestic battery -- after allegedly punching his 18-year-old stepson in the face multiple times, TMZ Sports has learned.

According to the police report, cops responded to a home in Florida on Monday around 4:45 PM -- after 18-year-old Aziya Taylor called 911.

When cops arrived, they say Taylor was bleeding from his mouth -- and said he had been attacked by Tarver, who he identified as his "stepfather."

Aziya told police the altercation with Tarver began earlier that day when they went to breakfast at Waffle House, but Aziya didn't have enough cash to cover the meal.

When they got back to the house, Aziya said Tarver "bum-rushed" him and struck him in the face.

Aziya says Tarver punched him again and then threw him into the garage and locked the door. Aziya says he escaped and called police.

Cops also spoke with Tarver -- who acknowledged an altercation with Aziya but denied punching him -- instead he says the guy busted his lip when he "tripped and fell" during the tussle.

Ultimately, cops didn't buy Antonio's story -- and arrested him for domestic battery.

The 49-year-old was booked Monday around 7 PM and spent the night in jail. He was released around 7 PM the next day.

According to his booking sheet, Tarver is 6'2" and 225 lbs. Bond was set at $1,000.

Tarver has had a history with the law -- he was arrested back in 2014 stemming from an unpaid gambling debt at the Wynn Las Vegas hotel and casino.

Tarver was a stud boxer back in the day -- winning multiple belts and chalking up impressive victories over stars like Roy Jones Jr.

Taylor Swift went deep at her concert on the one year anniversary of her win in her sexual assault trial ... saying how important it is that victims be believed.

Taylor was performing Tuesday night at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa and began choking up as she talked about the verdict she got against former DJ David Mueller who groped her during a 2013 meet-and-greet.

Taylor seems to be addressing the #MeToo movement, lamenting the fact that some victims of sexual assault are not believed ... and seemingly urging others to believe them.

Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and Bela Lugosi were all involved in a wild Hollywood arrest Tuesday night (sorta) ... when cops chased down and captured a suspect right on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

TMZ was right by the famous Combo's NY Pizzeria on Hollywood Blvd. when a hit-and-run suspect allegedly smashed into a parked car and then tried to run ... right into the restaurant.

Cops raced to the scene and subdued the guy -- using a hog-tie-style restraint to haul the man out of the eatery and into a waiting police car.

The area was packed with onlookers checking out the famous stars -- including Liz, Richard and Bela!

Former "Last Chance U" star Isaiah Wright tells TMZ Sports he's not wasting any time now that he's out of jail -- and still plans to take his football talents to the NFL.

20-year-old Wright was a superstar running back at East Mississippi Community College -- and was one of the breakout stars in the Netflix docuseries about the school's football team.

But, his career came to a screeching halt in Sept. 2017 when he was arrested on one 1 count of criminal homicide in the stabbing death of an 18-year-old man.

Wright was adamant he did NOT kill the man -- and after nearly a year behind bars, he was finally released after pleading guilty to the lesser charge of facilitation of aggravated robbery.

So, what's next for Wright? School and football.

Wright admits it was a challenge staying in shape during his jail stint but says he's focused on training. Isaiah also says he has 2 years of college eligibility left and hopes to land with a D1 program soon.

Wright says he's spoken with his former EMCC adviser Brittany Wagner (who was also featured on "Last Chance U") and says he has offered up her support.

And, the end goal for Wright?

A judge has ordered LeSean McCoy to allow his ex-girlfriend, Delicia Cordon, back into his Georgia home, so she can collect her belongings ... as long as she has a sheriff to accompany her.

Cordon had moved out of the home after she was pistol whipped in a violent robbery on July 10 -- and McCoy has since changed the locks, according to court docs.

Cordon argued that she still had valuable pieces of property in the home -- including jewelry and photos -- but McCoy refused to let her retrieve the items.

But, moments ago, a state court judge in Fulton County signed off on a plan for Cordon to go to the house on August 20 at 2 PM with a deputy sheriff who will supervise while she collects her stuff.

The war between the two sides is far from over -- Cordon is suing McCoy in connection with the robbery and assault ... insinuating he orchestrated the incident.

LeSean McCoy accused his ex-girlfriend, Delicia Cordon, of taking his prized Kobe Bryant sneakers during their heated eviction war ... but she claims he's full of crap.

Cordon is the same woman who was pistol whipped during a robbery at McCoy's Georgia home back in July -- an incident she has strongly insinuated was orchestrated by LeSean.

Before that incident, McCoy had filed court docs seeking to have her evicted from the home -- claiming they had broken up and he wanted her gone. She resisted and now Cordon has filed court docs of her own.

In the docs, Cordon claims McCoy illegally removed roughly $10,000 in furniture that she owned during a "wrongful eviction" back in June -- and she wants it back.

She also claims McCoy accused her of stealing his Kobes -- a claim she adamantly denies.

"Ms. Cordon does not know anything about Kobe Bryant sneakers nor would she have a reason to take Kobe Bryant sneakers," her lawyer wrote in an email to McCoy's attorney.

The case is set to go in front of the judge Tuesday -- McCoy is not expected to attend in person since he's at Bills training camp.

Former boxing star Jermain Taylor just scored a W in his domestic violence case -- prosecutors dropped the charges against him after the accuser suddenly stopped cooperating with authorities.

Taylor -- the former undisputed middleweight champ -- was arrested back in July 2017 for allegedly biting and threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend, Ashley White, during an argument.

White told police she pepper sprayed Taylor when he took her cell phone -- and he broke it when she tried to call for help. She also claimed Taylor chased her out of the house and down the street.

Taylor was initially charged with felony terroristic threats, misdemeanor domestic battery and interference with emergency communication.

But, White went off the grid about a year ago, according to prosecutors who told the court they had been trying like hell to speak with her in order to prosecute Taylor.

Prosecutors said they went to her home, left messages and spoke with family members -- but nothing panned out.

On Monday ... prosecutors decided without White they couldn't get a conviction -- so, they moved to drop all charges against him.

Ex-Oakland Raiders star cornerback Sean Smith is a free man -- he was released from jail Tuesday morning ... roughly 5 months into his 12-month sentence.

Smith has been locked up since March 13 -- when he pled guilty to felony assault in the brutal attack of his sister's boyfriend during a July 4, 2017 incident in Pasadena, CA.

The victim suffered major injuries including 5 facial fractures -- and required major reconstructive surgery including having a metal plate inserted into his face.

Smith was initially scheduled to be released on Sept. 5 due to good behavior and overcrowding -- but he caught an even bigger break ... getting out almost a month before that.

So, what's next for Smith? He's only 31 years old and was in the middle of a $40-million contract at the time of his arrest.

Rihanna fell victim to a faulty home alarm system as LAPD officers and a helicopter swarmed her Hollywood Hills pad.

Law enforcement sources say they responded to a home alarm at the singer's home Monday night. In a video -- obtained by TMZ -- multiple units can be seen parked outside the property. An LAPD helicopter was also spotted hovering about Rihanna's home in response to the alarm.

Our sources say it was eventually determined the alarm was accidentally triggered, though Rihanna was not home at the time.

As for the heavy police presence, were told it was because of the history of intruders at Rihanna's crib.

TMZ broke the story ... an intruder was arrested at the property back in May after he allegedly broke in and spent the night. The man allegedly told cops he was there to have sex with the singer -- though she was not home at the time -- but he did not intend to do it forcefully.

An actress who plays a post-apocalyptic juvenile delinquent on TV allegedly went nuclear on her BF in real life and got busted by cops.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Marie Avgeropoulos -- who stars as Octavia Blake on CW's hit sci-fi show, "The 100" -- was arrested in L.A. last week and booked for felony domestic violence.

We're told a man called police very early on August 5 from inside a car ... claiming his girlfriend had hit him during a verbal argument. Sources say when police arrived, the man had marks on his body ... so Marie was taken to jail.

Her mugshot's just as edgy as her character on '100' -- albeit with a lot less blood and war paint on her face. She does appear to have been crying though.

A source close to Marie claims the actress was on new meds and mixed it with wine during dinner that evening ... which resulted in a bad reaction. We're told her boyfriend called police thinking they'd diffuse the situation rather than arrest her -- as they're both Canadian and unfamiliar with what'll get a person hauled off to jail in the U.S.

Our source says he begged cops not to take her away ... and even bailed her out after. Marie was released on $50,000 bond.

Dak Prescott's father was arrested for possession of marijuana over the weekend in Texas ... where he was forced to pose for a mug shot.

For weed.

57-year-old Nathaniel Prescott was driving on Highway 87 in Orange County, TX -- about an hour and a half outside of Houston -- when he was stopped for a traffic violation.

During the stop, troopers discovered weed (less than 2 grams!) in the driver's side door of his Cadillac Escalade and arrested Prescott for misdemeanor possession ... a Class B offense.

Prescott was hauled to a nearby station where he was booked and posed for a mug shot. He was eventually released on $500 bond, according to KFDM's Peter Eliopoulos, who broke the story.

FYI, recreational weed is legal in 9 states. Medical is legal in 30 states.

John Mayer is the latest celeb to be hit by burglars ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us, someone broke into the singer's Beverly Hills-area home mid-morning Friday. The intruder got in by smashing a bedroom window.

We're told the house was "ransacked." The burglar/burglars made off with music equipment and personal property. Our sources say among the items taken ... some of John's watches. He has an enormous and enormously valuable timepiece collection.

Our sources say the value of the property taken is between $100,000 and $200,000.

No one was home at the time of the break-in. We don't know if John's burglar alarm was on.

Somewhere around noon, a security guard noticed the broken window and called police.

It appears 'Ace Ventura' actress Sean Young was brazen in her alleged burglary ... loading up an SUV with gear in broad daylight.

Young was allegedly caught on surveillance video outside an NYC production set Thursday with an unidentified male. You can see in the video -- obtained by TMZ -- it appears Young certainly doesn't seem to be in any rush ... taking her time while loading up.

TMZ broke the story ... Young was wanted by the NYPD for questioning after she allegedly took 2 Apple laptops and video production software, worth about $12,000, from a set where she was allegedly fired from months ago.

Ex-MLB All-Star pitcher Esteban Loaiza has formally pled guilty to felony cocaine possession with intent to distribute and now faces up to life in prison.

As we previously reported, the 46-year-old was arrested in San Diego back in February after officials said he was trying to move more than $500,000 in cocaine from a house located near a school.

Officials say Loaiza was using "sophisticated" smuggling devices to hide the 22 kilos of coke.

He initially pled not guilty -- but changed his plea. On Friday, he appeared in a San Diego federal courtroom to plead guilty to the charge.

Sentencing is scheduled for November 2 -- and he could face up to life in prison with a minimum of 10 years. He could also be deported to Mexico.

Former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich has been arrested in Germany after officials say the cyclist beat up a hooker in Frankfurt.

Yes. You read that correctly.

The 44-year-old -- who won the Tour back in 1997 -- allegedly had a dispute with a female sex worker at a hotel ... and the incident turned physical.

Officials say the woman suffered injuries in the attack and Ullrich could be charged with assault or attempted murder. Cops also suspect he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol.