Crime & Arrests

Ben Crump is now representing William McNeil Jr. -- the Florida man seen in a viral video getting his car window smashed in and his head punched repeatedly by Jacksonville deputies during a traffic stop -- and he tells us the newly released body cam footage strengthens McNeil’s case.

The civil rights attorney tells us the incident is a clear case of "driving while Black," arguing officers had pre-judged McNeil before pulling him over. He even likens it to a modern-day Rosa Parks moment -- saying McNeil was violently arrested for simply questioning the stop.

The footage has sparked nationwide outrage and reignited a debate over racial profiling and police use of force.

Memphis Grizzlies star Zach Edey -- the 7-foot-4 phenom -- cut a deal with prosecutors on Wednesday to close out his reckless driving case, TMZ Sports has learned.

Court records we obtained show the 23-year-old admitted to a speeding infraction and agreed to pay $639.50 ... and in exchange, officials dropped the misdemeanor reckless driving charge he had been facing.

The case stemmed from a May 1 encounter the basketball player had with Indiana State Police in West Lafayette.

Bryan Kohberger has finally been sentenced after admitting to murdering 4 University of Idaho college students -- with the victims' families telling him exactly how they feel.

The confessed killer was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences ... one for each of the first-degree murder counts he pled guilty to, without the possibility of parole.

Kohberger wore an orange prison uniform during sentencing ... different than the buttoned-up shirt and tie he wore last time we saw him in court.

Rex Heuermann is accused of hunting sex workers in a quiet Long Island beach town ... but could sloppy police work have allowed him to keep killing?

Our deep dive from 2023 is now officially on YouTube ... and it peels back the layers of the investigation, exposing critical mistakes and overlooked clues that may have cost more lives.

From the shocking discovery of multiple victims to the arrest of a seemingly ordinary man, we unpack how the system failed the victims and their families.

It’s a story of secrets, missed red flags, and a trail of tragedy that rocked a community to its core.

Tekashi 6ix9ine changed his OG not-guilty plea to guilty after being busted with drugs back in March -- and will learn his fate in September, come sentencing!!!

On Wednesday, the "Trollz" rapper was in federal court, where he admitted to possessing cocaine and MDMA feds discovered during a raid on his home in Miami back in March ... a complete and total violation of his existing probation terms, stemming from his infamous 2018 Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods trial.

We reported at the time that 6ix9ine was clinging heavily to his innocence, but he struck a deal with prosecutors to have 2 other charges dropped in exchange for owning up to the drugs.

Judge Paul A. Engelmayer oversaw Tekashi's RICO trial and warned him not to attract any more violations before the September sentencing -- or “consequences will be severe” ... which could still be the case, regardless.

Donald Trump would've used his lasso of truth to make Bryan Kohberger spill on the motive for his heinous crimes ... so says the White House Press Secretary.

Karoline Leavitt spoke from the White House Briefing Room Wednesday ... and, she kicked it off by addressing the families of Kohberger's victims -- telling them the administration is so sorry for the grief and pain caused by the murderous Kohberger.

Leavitt then added, "If it were up to the President, he would have forced this monster to publicly explain why he chose to steal these innocent souls."

10:33 AM PT -- JetBlue Corporate Communications tells TMZ ... "This behavior is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated by JetBlue. Immediately upon receiving the report, our crewmembers acted swiftly to engage JetBlue’s security team and law enforcement. We are fully cooperating with the investigation and these customers are no longer welcome to fly JetBlue."

A Connecticut couple has been charged with lewd or lascivious exhibition after they were accused of hanky-panky on a flight from New York to Florida -- and not stopping when they noticed kids watching -- according to police.

Trista Reilly allegedly decided to get dirty on a JetBlue plane early Saturday by allegedly performing oral sex on Christopher Drew Arnold, according to court documents obtained by TMZ.

Specifically, police were informed she made "up-and-down movements with her head while she was face down" in his lap, and also masturbated him.

The 2 minors' appalled mother also claimed in her complaint that Trista "didn't care that the kids were watching her" and continued pleasuring her partner even after she noticed she had an audience.

It's unclear how long the sexual acts lasted, but the mother told police Trista went down on Christopher during takeoff. Which, if true, means the kids had to sit through the rest of the flight after witnessing such an obscene situation.

The couple was arrested by police when they landed at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport around 11:30 in the morning. They were released Monday and must have no contact with the alleged victims and stay out of trouble before their arraignment in August.

Diego Sanchez's lawyer tells TMZ Sports the former UFC fighter will "channel his energy and passion into getting better with some needed treatment and counseling" after being released from jail for his gun-related arrest.

Jason Bowles provided us with the statement after Judge Cindy Leos granted Sanchez his release in New Mexico on Tuesday ... saying, "Diego has done so much good for the Albuquerque community over the years and has been a role model for many at risk youth. He is a much loved UFC legend."

"We believe he is on the path back to greatness in all areas of his life," Bowles added.

Bryan Kohberger's victims' families have mostly talked about their disgust for his actions and their hope that he suffers in prison ... but one person is forgiving him before he's officially put away for life.

Kim Kernodle spoke at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho ... and she said it might not be popular, but she's forgiving Kohberger for murdering her niece Xana and three others at the house near the University of Idaho.

She says she can't hold on to that hate in her heart ... and, to be the best person she can be, she says she needs to forgive and move on.

One of Bryan Kohberger's survivors had a friend read her victim impact statement in an Idaho court Wednesday -- revealing the quadruple murder was so traumatic she had to sleep in her parents' room for a year to feel safe.

Emily Alandt stood at a podium during Kohberger's sentencing hearing and read the statement from her friend Bethany Funke -- who was inside the murder house that fateful night in 2020, but survived along with Dylan Mortensen. As you know, Kohberger butchered to death Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves.

Alandt told a rapt courtroom audience and Kohberger himself that Funke slept in her parents' room for nearly a year with double locks on every door in their home.

Kaylee Goncalves' father looked Bryan Kohberger in the eye when he spoke to him ... turning his podium to stare directly at the man who killed his daughter before tearing into him.

Steve Goncalves addressed the courtroom at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho in a victim impact statement Wednesday ... one of many made by the family and friends of the four people Kohberger pled guilty to murdering earlier this month.

While the speakers who went before Steve mostly stared ahead at the judge during their statements, Steve reconfigured the room ... turning the podium so he could look directly at BK.

The domestic violence charge famed powerlifter Stefi Cohen was facing was dropped on Wednesday, TMZ Sports has learned.

Official documents we obtained show prosecutors dismissed the case after the alleged victim declined to cooperate. Officials added there was insufficient evidence "to prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt."

Cohen was hit with one count of misdemeanor battery in Miami earlier this month, after she allegedly assaulted her boyfriend, Tristan Hamm, during a heated dispute on July 1.

A Southern California man has been hit with 74 felony charges after allegedly plowing his car into a crowd outside an East Hollywood nightclub over the weekend, injuring 37 people -- some critically.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office says Fernando Ramirez faces 37 counts each of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. Prosecutors allege he intentionally drove onto the sidewalk outside The Vermont Hollywood around 2 AM on Saturday, striking dozens of pedestrians.

Eight victims suffered great bodily injury, and Ramirez was allegedly out on bail in a separate domestic violence case out of Orange County. He's being held without bail.

Erik Menendez is not in prison right now ... he is in a nearby hospital being treated for kidney stones, and it's possible he will not return ... sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ.

We broke the story ... Erik is being treated with what his lawyer Mark Geragos called a "serious medical condition." We have confirmed that the condition is kidney stones.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirms Erik was transported to an outside medical facility Friday ... and we're told he is currently in fair condition.

12:49 PM PT -- Erik Menendez is undergoing treatment for kidney stones ... TMZ has confirmed.

Erik Menendez is battling a health issue that is so serious his lawyer is asking California Governor Gavin Newsom to release him immediately, ahead of next month's parole hearing.

Attorney Mark Geragos was on "TMZ Live" Tuesday and told Harvey Erik's medical condition is "serious" ... serious enough to warrant immediate action by the Governor.

Geragos said Erik is getting treatment in prison, but -- although Geragos wouldn't say -- it seems treatment by specialists outside the prison would be appropriate and possibly essential.

A driver who mouthed off to law enforcement during a traffic stop in Florida got punched in the mouth after police smashed his window and pulled him out of his car ... and it's all on video.

Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters just released body camera footage from William McNeil's violent February arrest ... and you see him arguing with deputies about why he got pulled over.

McNeil questions deputies who told him he was being pulled over for not using his headlights in the rain ... and he locks himself in the car and demands a supervisor ... then continues his defense when more deputies show up ... until police smash his window with bare fists and drag him out of the driver's seat.