U.S. rapper Soulja Boy has been released from custody after Los Angeles prosecutors declined to press charges related to a firearm discovered in a vehicle he was travelling in over the weekend.
The 35-year-old artist, born DeAndre Cortez Way, was arrested early Sunday morning in the Melrose district of L.A., near his SODMG clothing store, after the Tesla he was riding in was pulled over for an alleged traffic violation. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the stop was initiated due to illegally tinted windows.
During the stop, officers located a firearm in the rear seat, close to one of the vehicle’s occupants. Both Way and the driver reportedly denied ownership of the weapon. Despite the denial, Way was booked on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm and held for two nights while prosecutors reviewed the case.
On Tuesday, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office confirmed the case had been declined “due to insufficient evidence.” Online records show Way was released shortly before 2 p.m. local time.
The arrest added another chapter to a string of legal issues surrounding the rapper, who rose to prominence with his 2007 breakout hit Crank That (Soulja Boy). The song spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and received a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Song in 2008.
Earlier this year, Way was ordered by a California jury to pay $4.25 million to a former girlfriend after being found liable in a civil case involving allegations of sexual battery, assault, and gender violence. He denied the claims, stating the relationship was consensual.
Way’s criminal record includes a 2014 conviction for carrying a loaded firearm in public. He later served nearly eight months in jail for violating probation terms related to that offence.
Following his release on Tuesday, Way posted a minimalist statement on social media: a black screen with the words “First day out” in bold white letters.
Photo – Getty Images
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