Arrests

Ex-'Love & Hip Hop' star Benzino is in the battle of his life right now, but nobody knew it.

We've learned Benzino was arrested back in January 2017 and charged with felony possession of THC oil gummies (22 grams), felony possession of 6 MDMA pills and misdemeanor possession of less than an ounce of weed.

According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, cops executed a search warrant at the producer's ATL apartment and found the drugs in drawers and on the kitchen counters. He was arrested and posted $12k bail. Benzino's legal team argued the search was illegal, but a judge ruled cops searched the pad legally.

Fast forward to now ... we're told Benzino's legal team will learn Wednesday in court when the case is headed to trial ... which could be as soon as next month, if he doesn't cop a plea.

If convicted, Benzino could face up to 15 years behind bars.

Tekashi69 is unfazed by the feds' collection of photos and videos, allegedly tying him to multiple crimes, and insists he's in no mood to play "Let's Make a Deal" ... TMZ has learned.

We broke the story ... prosecutors submitted a stack of images to the judge, just to make the point that Tekashi needs to remain behind bars until his trial begins ... in September. The evidence seems pretty damning, but 6ix9ine's attorney says they're not flinching.

Lance Lazzaro tells us, "A plea deal is simply off the table, even if the feds offer one." He says they're prepared to go trial and prove Tekashi's innocence.

As we reported, prosecutors have pics and videos linking Tekashi and his crew, including Kifano "Shotti" Jordan, to at least 3 armed robberies and/or shootings in Brooklyn earlier this year.

It's true, none of the images show the rapper pulling a trigger, or even holding a weapon -- but the feds are alleging he was the mastermind behind the crimes, even if he didn't do the dirty work.

Ex-porn star Mary Carey's new husband got put into handcuffs for carrying a beating stick -- which might sound kinda kinky -- but get your head outta the gutter.

Dr. Joseph Brownfield was busted Monday night at LAX as he and Mary were going through TSA. We're told agents pulled the good doc aside when they noticed a potential weapon in his carry-on ... which turned out to be a collapsible baton.

Unfortunately for Dr. B., it's illegal in California to carry one of those if you aren't law enforcement or a licensed security guard. He was booked for misdemeanor control of a deadly weapon. He was released form jail after posting a $5,000 bond the next day.

Sources close to the newly hitched couple tell TMZ ... Mary and her Mister are in the middle of moving from Cali to Florida, and he sometimes carries the baton for protection.

Phaedra Parks wants Cardi B to handle her business -- in court, that is, before it starts affecting her money biz.

We got the 'RHOA' star Tuesday night heading into NYC's Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum for the TPG Awards and wanted to kill 2 birds with one stone -- getting a celeb lawyer to weigh in on Cardi skipping her Monday court date to shoot a music video.

As we first reported, Cardi pissed off the judge in her strip club beatdown case when she was a no-show to Monday's court hearing in NYC. Turns out she was twerking her ass off in Miami ... for work, of course.

Lil Pump flew a little too close to the sun and got burned -- he taunted police officers in Denmark, on camera, got his ass locked up and had to cancel a gig ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to the rapper tell us ... cops in Copenhagen detained him and his crew Tuesday for an unknown reason. We're told someone in the group was holding something illegal.

As they were being hauled to the police station, Pump busted out his phone and began live streaming and flipped a bird behind an officer's back. We're told the cops found out and decided to detain him much longer.

As a result ... LP's concert Tuesday night in Finland's been canceled. The Live Nation website for the show says it's due to "unexpected events."

Our sources say Pump's expected to be released in the next 24 hours. So far, he hasn't been hit with any criminal charges.

11:51 AM PT -- A rep for the Raptors 905 tells TMZ Sports they've cut ties with Felder ... saying "On Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, Raptors 905 guard Kay Felder was charged by police in connection with an allegation of domestic violence. Raptors 905 have waived Felder, effective immediately."

11:46 AM PT -- A G League spokesperson tells us ... “The G League is aware of the allegations against Raptors 905 guard Kahlil “Kay” Felder and has placed him on indefinite leave pending a full investigation into the matter.”

Kay Felder -- a 2016 NBA Draft pick who currently plays in the G League -- was arrested near Toronto early Monday morning for assault and we're told the alleged victim is a woman.

Felder was demoted by the Toronto Raptors to the team's G League affiliate back in October -- and he's been playing for the Raptors 905 squad ever since.

Now, we've learned the 23-year-old point guard was taken into custody Monday morning after a person claimed he got violent and made threats during a night out.

Cops wouldn't confirm the identity of the accuser but multiple sources connected to the incident tell us the alleged victim is a woman who has known Felder for years.

We're told the two got into an argument after dinner and Felder allegedly got violent and choked her, leaving nasty marks on her neck. Our sources say the alleged victim was able to call a family member who then called police.

We're told paramedics responded to the scene and treated the alleged victim.

Law enforcement confirms Felder was booked for assault and utter threats. He's been released from custody and is due back in court later this month.

Cops busted a former "America's Got Talent" singer for underage drinking ... TMZ has learned.

20-year-old Skilyr Hicks is still in custody in Findlay, OH and is facing one count of "sale to/use by underage person" ... according to her booking info. Law enforcement sources tell TMZ she was arrested Tuesday for underage consumption and intoxication, and charged with a misdemeanor.

The alleged boozing went down in October, but for some reason a warrant for her arrest was just issued this week.

Hicks also spent some time in a Georgia jail in April 2017 for allegedly assaulting 3 family members -- including her grandmother -- after coming home intoxicated.

She reportedly injured her older sister and blew a .126 after police responded to the call. She was charged with domestic violence.

Skilyr wowed the judges during Season 8 auditions of 'AGT' when she was just 14 years old, by playing and singing an original song.

Pro surfing star Bruce Irons was arrested last week for driving under the influence of drugs ... cops say.

The 39-year-old Hawaiian surfer was approached by the Newport Beach Police Dept. on Nov. 22 at 9:23 AM.

Law enforcement tells TMZ Sports Irons was found passed out behind the wheel of a running car at a gas station. Cops responded, found Irons, woke him up and determined he was under the influence of drugs. He was arrested without incident.

According to police records, Irons was booked for DUI Drugs, possession of a controlled substance without prescription and driving without a valid license. Bail was set at $2,500.

Bruce Irons is a legend in the surf world -- he's won several tournaments over the years including the 2008 Rip Curl Pro Search. He also famously beat Kelly Slater at the 2001 Billabong Pipeline Masters.

Bruce is also the younger brother of surf legend Andy Irons -- the 3-time world surfing champion who died in 2010 from a drug overdose at a hotel in Texas.

Both Bruce and Andy struggled with substance abuse -- something Bruce spoke about in the documentary "Andy Irons: Kissed By God."

Here's hoping he can find a way to conquer his demons ...

Reuben Foster has been cut by the San Francisco 49ers after being arrested in Tampa Bay for domestic violence.

Tampa police said Foster and a woman got into a verbal altercation Saturday at the team's hotel. Foster allegedly slapped her phone out of her hand, pushed her in the chest and slapped her with an open hand on the right side of her face. Tampa police said the alleged victim had been in a relationship with Foster for 3 years.

This isn't Fosters' first run-in with the law. He was previously accused of domestic violence, but the judge dropped the charges in May.

Tekashi69 is still sitting unprotected in general population of a federal prison, but his biggest concern right now is for his family's safety ... TMZ has learned.

Tekashi's got a good reason to be worried, according to the feds ... who say the rapper's recently fired employees want to "super violate" him -- a gang term for revenge, in general, and possibly murder. His attorney, Lance Lazzaro, visited Tekashi Tuesday and tells us, "Daniel’s mood is fine, because he knows he is innocent. He’s extremely concerned about his family."

6ix9ine had been trying to get in some QT with his 3-year-old daughter in the weeks before his Sunday night arrest. He was with her and the child's mother celebrating her birthday just last month. Lazzaro tells us he doesn't know of any specific threat to the family.

As for any threats to Tekashi behind bars, Lazzaro says he hasn't asked for protective custody, but the feds could make that decision on their own if they think Tekashi's in danger. He's gonna be in Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center a while longer.

Fat Joe says Tekashi69 was in a frantic state of mind just weeks ago ... correctly predicting the feds were gunning for him.

We talked to Joe Tuesday -- right after he wrapped up his Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway in NYC -- and asked him about the ominous warning he gave Tekashi 9 months ago. If ya missed it, Tekashi went on Joe's "Coca Vision" podcast and Joe warned him about catching heat for associating with the wrong crowd.

Fat Joe asked Tekashi, "Can you control your friends? The police tried to set me up so many times ... 1 million percent they are plotting on you." Joe says his prediction played out almost exactly as he feared.

TMZ broke the story ... Tekashi was indicted on 6 federal charges, some of which carry max sentences of life in prison.

Tekashi69 is getting NO special treatment while he's in prison awaiting his bail hearing because he's chillin' with every other inmate in general population ... TMZ has learned.

6ix9ine's lawyer, Lance Lazzaro, tells us ... Tekashi has been placed in gen pop at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center as opposed to being held in a segregated part of the federal pen ... due to his celeb status.

That's interesting because the MDC is notoriously brutal, with inmates that are "extremely dangerous, violent, or escape-prone," according to the U.S. Justice Department.

There's also this ... prosecutors expressed Monday just how much of a target Tekashi had been prior to his arrest this weekend. One prosecutor told a judge ex-members of Tekashi's crew "wanted to super violate him" following his appearance on the 'Breakfast Club' ... where he accused his inner circle of turning on him.

The prosecutor, Michael Longyear, said 'super violate' meant inflict harm on Tekashi, including possibly shooting him. He said they took Tekashi in after learning he was planning a trip to a Connecticut casino, and feared an attempt on his life could put innocent people in jeopardy.

As for the rapper getting placed in gen pop ... Lazzaro thinks Tekashi will be fine. His scheduled bail hearing for Tuesday was pushed to Wednesday since the judge was unavailable.

Arizona Cardinals tight end Ricky Seals-Jones has pled guilty to misdemeanor assault stemming from a shoving match in an AZ hotel bathroom earlier this year ... TMZ Sports has learned.

As we previously reported, staffers at the W Hotel in Scottsdale told police Ricky bull-rushed his way into a guests-only restroom and gave this explanation to police -- "Literally, I had to piss."

Hotel staffers claimed they tried to politely turn Ricky away from the bathroom -- but he wouldn't take no for an answer.

A shoving match broke out and employees eventually tackled Ricky (6'5", 245 lbs) down to the ground.

Cops reviewed the surveillance tape and arrested him on 3 misdemeanor charges of assault, disorderly conduct and third-degree criminal trespass.

But, Monday in court, Ricky cut a deal with prosecutors -- in which he agreed to enter a guilty plea to Class 3 misdemeanor assault and, in exchange, the other charges were dropped.

It's a good deal for Ricky who was facing up to 8 months in jail if convicted on all original counts.

As part of his sentence, Ricky has been ordered to complete an alcohol abuse program. If he keeps his nose clean until May 2019, the conviction will be wiped from his record.

And, of course, the NFL will also likely mete out its own punishment for violating the league's Personal Conduct Policy.

A New Orleans man was arrested at a Willie's Chicken Shack after allegedly claiming he was going to "blow the bathroom up."

Problem is ... the guy claims he was talking about butt bombs -- not actual explosives!!!

And yes, this is a real story.

The man in the mug shot is 30-year-old Arthur Posey -- who hit up the Canal Street restaurant at night on Nov. 13.

Employees told police Posey made a violent threat against the place -- allegedly saying, "Y’all about to close right now because I’m going to get a bomb and blow this place up.”

When cops tracked down Posey, he claimed it was a giant misunderstanding -- explaining he told staffers he was going to "blow the bathroom up" ... meaning, he was gonna poop his brains out.

Cops didn't buy what Posey was selling and arrested him. He's now facing 2 counts of communicating false information of planned arson.

He's due back in court later this month -- where he'll try to convince a judge the allegations are just a bunch of crap.

Michael Avenatti sure doesn't seem worried about his felony domestic violence arrest, and he's literally pointing the finger at right-wing conspiracy theorist Jacob Wohl for what he says is a frame job.

We got Avenatti leaving Dan Tana's restaurant Thursday night in WeHo, and he tripled down that he is certain he'll be exonerated after an investigation, and then it's judgment day for Wohl.

Avenatti clearly thinks Wohl -- who was implicated in the false sexual misconduct claims against Robert Mueller last month -- has trumped up the domestic violence allegations against him.

For his part, Wohl has denied he's behind the DV allegations.

And, Avenatti seems more than confident ... Stormy Daniels will remain his client, despite her wait-and-see comments Wednesday.

The guy who's been arrested for Tekashi69's kidnapping and robbery is one of the rapper's disgruntled ex-crew member ... and it appears he wanted revenge.

Sources with knowledge of the situation tell TMZ ... Anthony Jamel Ellison used to be part of 6ix9ine's management crew. He was fired after the infamous LAX brawl. We're told he'd been very involved in Tekashi's career in the early days, and felt he should've been paid more for the work he did.

Our sources say Ellison felt he wasn't getting a fair cut of the money Tekashi started making when his career took off. We're told it was a feeling Ellison had been sitting on for a while, and things finally boiled over with the July kidnapping ... allegedly.

We broke the story ... Tekashi was pistol-whipped and robbed blind by goons -- crimes for which Ellison was arrested and indicted last week. Law enforcement sources tell us they believe Ellison had "real beef" with Tekashi.

And, get this ... there's another suspect who's still wanted, whom we're told was also tied to Tekashi, and might've had similar motives.