ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Rapper and St. Louis native Cornell Iral Haynes Jr., better known to many as Nelly, was arrested by Missouri State Highway Patrol at around 4:45 a.m. Wednesday morning near Hollywood Casino and Hotel.
According to arrests records from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Nelly was found in possession of four ecstasy pills in his vehicle and was driving without insurance.
Nelly, the rapper most know for hits "Country Grammar" and "Hot In Herre", would be taken into custody and held by Maryland Heights Police Department but would shortly be released after the arrest.
Nelly's attorney, Scott Rosenblum said in a statement Wednesday evening that the rapper, who grew up in the area, visits Hollywood Casino and Hotel frequently.
Online Missouri court records show that Nelly, was cited in June 2018 in Maryland Heights with operating a vehicle without proper proof of insurance. A judge issued a warrant in December 2023, and it remained outstanding.
Rosenblum said Nelly had won several casino jackpots and when he sought to collect them, the officer who would have supervised the transaction “needlessly” ran a search for warrants. Once the officer found the outstanding warrant, he cuffed Nelly's hands behind his back and “felt compelled” to “parade him through the casino in front of other customers," Rosenblum said.
Nelly's attorney called what the officer found “alleged ‘ecstasy’” and said the officer did not have probable cause to justify searching him. Nelly wasn't notified of the warrant and did not know about it, Rosenblum said.
“I am 100% confident this case will go nowhere,” Rosenblum said. “And we will be asking for an inquiry into this officer’s conduct.”
The Highway Patrol's report provided no details about the arrest, and Maryland Heights police did not respond to a call Wednesday seeking comment.
Rosenblum said that in similar circumstances, “any other citizen would have been told to address it and allowed to go on their way.”