As reported earlier, T.I. will have to serve another 11 months of prison time after violating his probation following a September 1 arrest in Hollywood. Tip and his wife, Takema “Tiny” Cottle, were arrested for suspicion of possessing methamphetamines after police pulled over their Maybach in West Hollywood. TMZ reports the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office won’t pursue the drug charges “because, in essence, he’s already been sentenced to prison since the arrest was a violation of his federal probation.”
Reports also state there were issues with the probable cause that led to T.I.’s arrest. No marijuana was ever booked into evidence, despite arresting officers claiming to have smelled it at the time of the arrest. T.I. and Cottle were also arrested immediately after the vehicle made the illegal U-turn without having any registration check performed. However, since Tip was arrested—regardless of the charges—he will still have to serve the prison sentence since any arrest is grounds for his parole being violated.
Shortly after the arrest, civil rights leader Andrew Young, who served as Tip’s mentor, questioned the probable cause of the arrest.
“I assume that you’re innocent until you’re proven guilty,” Young told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. “If he was driving and smoking marijuana, that is absolutely stupid. But why was he pulled over in the first place? Because he had a Maybach? Because he was black? Because they know who he is and resent his success? We never talked about drugs. Maybe I should have.” (October 25)
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UPDATE: It was announced today that T.I. will report to prison on next Monday, November 1. According to The Associated Press, the rapper will serve his sentence at Forest City, a low-security prison. Previously, T.I. served there after his 2007 weapons arrest.
