Jail intake video of arrest of rapper T.I. released
HENRY COUNTY, Ga. - Newly released video from inside the intake section of the Henry County Jail shows Atlanta-area rapper T.I. talking to officers and jail officials about why he was arrested. He was charged with simple assault, disorderly conduct, and public drunkenness.
A police report released by the Henry County Police Department Wednesday afternoon stated T.I., whose legal name is Clifford Harris Jr., got into a dispute with a security guard at the entrance to the Eagles Landing Country Club located at 100 Eagles Landing Way around 4:30 a.m.
Police were called to the scene a short time later. Harris told officers he pulled up to the gate to find the guard, later identified in the report as Officer Euwan James, was sleeping. The police report stated Harris was finally allowed inside but kept pressing the officer for his name and his supervisor's name. When he didn't get it, the police report stated, he promised to come back. The guard told police Harris was yelling at him using profanity and even stated "come outside so we can deal with this man to man" and "let go into the street," the report continued.
App users: Click here to watch footage from inside the jail intake of T.I.
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Harris went to his home about a half mile away from the guard station, but according to the report told James he would return, which he did. James told police he felt threatened and didn't know what Harris would do.
Harris admitted to drinking that night and said he had a drink while walking back to the guard shack, according to the report.
Officers reviewed the country club's surveillance video, according to the report, which showed Harris sanding at the guard shack window, leaning inside and yelling at Officer James, repeatedly asking him his name.
"Mr. Harris kept stating that there was no way around him. Mr. Harris kept telling him Officer James he reports to him because he owns property here. I heard Mr. Harris ask Officer James to come outside so they can handle this. I then observed Mr. Harris walk around the building where you can hear Mr. Harris yelling," the police report reads describing the surveillance video.
Harris was taken into police custody just before 5 a.m. Harris has since bonded out of jail.
Harris' attorney, Steve Sadow, released the following statement Wednesday afternoon:
"Tip was wrongfully arrested early this morning when he attempted to gain entrance into his gated community - where his wife “Tiny” and his family reside. The guard was sound asleep when Tip arrived at the guardhouse. It took Tip some time to wake up the sleeping guard. Tip clearly identified himself and sought entry. The guard refused entry. Tip was in contact with “Tiny” by phone and “Tiny” confirmed that Tip should be let in immediately. The guard continued to refuse entry without justification. Words were exchanged and apparently the guard and/or a supervisor called the police. When the police arrived, they were not interested in hearing Tip’s side of the story and wrongfully chose to end the situation by arresting Tip."
Marquinarius Holmes, 40, of Stockbridge, who was with Harris at the time was arrested on an outstanding warrant out of Clayton County and a charge of not having proof of car insurance, according to police records. Holmes has been credited with composing several songs including at least two for T.I.