Rapper T.I.'s Travel Interrupted By Mistaken Identity Arrest In Atlanta
By Afouda Bamidele on August 5, 2024 at 12:55 PM EDT
Updated on August 5, 2024 at 1:13 PM EDT
Rapper T.I. is no stranger to legal troubles; however, his latest run-in with the law had nothing to do with him.
The "Live Your Life" hitmaker was recently arrested at the airport after authorities mistook him for a wanted man. Surprisingly, the culprit has the same name as the rapper — Clifford Harris.
T.I.'s mistaken identity arrest comes a month after he and his wife, Tiny, were slammed with a sexual assault and battery lawsuit.
Rapper T.I. Reportedly Gets Dragged To Jail Over Another Man's Crimes
The Hip-hop star's Sunday plans got ruined when cops caught him at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. He was arrested on a warrant for a man named Clifford Harris, who committed crimes in Baltimore, Maryland.
The suspect was accused of violent behavior against a woman, from stalking to gun allegations. The complaint against this man was reportedly filed on June 13, making cops a little too excited to find a man named Clifford Harris months later.
However, T.I. turned out to be the wrong person as the wanted man reportedly weighs 205 pounds while the rapper weighs 165 pounds. But cops didn't realize this crucial detail until they dragged him to Clayton County Jail, per TMZ.
T.I. Got Released Shortly After His Arrest
Because the warrant for Clifford Harris was issued out of state, T.I.'s arrest triggered an automatic extradition hearing. His lawyer, Steve Sadow, immediately sprung into action and called the Clayton County Sheriff's Office.
Sadow claimed he got T.I. released within two hours of his arrest. A judge also reviewed and dismissed the extradition order, making his client a free man as he did not match the suspect's weight.
It was scary to think how long T.I. could have been in custody if his weight had matched the wanted man as their names did. The 43-year-old certainly didn't need another legal case, given his ongoing sexual assault and battery lawsuit.
T.I. And His Wife Sued For Sexual Assault Allegations
In July, The Blast reported that T.I. and his wife, Tiny, were making waves for another legal drama. The couple were sued by an Air Force member identified in court documents as Jane Doe.
The woman called out the famous couple for grave crimes involving sexual assault, claiming they attacked her in 2005. However, T.I. and Tiny fired back at her claims and requested the court to dismiss the lawsuit.
"The facts, as alleged, reflect that [Doe] voluntarily and consciously participated in the encounter up to the point when she said 'no' and removed herself from the bed with Defendants," the pair's lawyer explained.
T.I. and Tiny's rep stressed that they honored the woman's "expressed desire to leave the encounter, go to the bathroom, sit on a couch until the morning, and then leave." The duo also argued that the statute of limitations expired over a decade ago.
Inside The Plaintiff's Alleged Encounter With The Couple
The lawsuit against T.I. and Tiny claimed they met the Air Force member at a club in 2005. The rapper allegedly offered her a drink before inviting her to join them at a hotel in Los Angeles.
The plaintiff, who was22 at the time, claimed T.I.'s demeanor changed when they got to the room, as he gave orders and "instruction for how the remainder of the night was going to go." But her situation worsened after she got into the shower with them.
The alleged victim claimed she felt lightheaded and suspected she had been drugged. After vomiting, she was convinced T.I. spiked the drink he gave her at the club "for the purpose of sexually assaulting and battering her."
Rapper T.I. And Tiny Were Sued For Unspecified Damages
According to the plaintiff's lawyer, she did not "consent to any of the sexual assault or misconduct and did not have the capacity to consent after being drugged by Defendants."
The alleged victim claimed T.I. and Tiny's actions resulted in "severe emotional, physical, and psychological injury, including humiliation, shame, guilt, economic loss, economic capacity, and permanent emotional distress."
For her physical and emotional suffering, the plaintiff wanted an unspecified amount in damages, but a judge has yet to rule on the matter. As for the couple, they await the court's decision to dismiss or hear the case.
Being sued is one thing, but being arrested for something you have nothing to do with is a whole new issue. Hopefully, this T.I. namesake will be found, and the rapper will not be mistakenly arrested again.