Rapper Busta Rhymes, whose birth name is Trevor Smith, exits Manhattan criminal court in this Oct. 24, 2006 file photo in New York. Rhymes was arrested on a drunken driving charge Thursday May 2, 2007, police said, marking the latest in a series of recent legal troubles for the hip-hop star. (AP Photo/ Louis Lanzano, File)
Busta Rhymes Arrested on DWI Charge
Thursday, May 3, 2007 10:35 AM EDT
The Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — Busta Rhymes was arrested on a drunken driving charge early Thursday, police said, marking the latest in a series of recent legal troubles for the rapper.
Officers stopped Rhymes at about 12:40 a.m. because the sport utility vehicle he was driving had overly tinted windows, Sgt. Mike Wysokowski said. He said officers then smelled alcohol on the rapper's breath.
Rhymes, 34, was taken into custody on a charge of driving while impaired, Wysokowski said. An arraignment was expected later Thursday.
A lawyer for Rhymes, Scott Leemon, declined to comment saying he would address the charges in court.
A telephone message left early Thursday at the New York office of Rhymes' manager, Violator Management, was not immediately returned.
Rhymes, whose real name is Trevor Smith, has had several law enforcement run-ins since last year. He is tentatively scheduled to go to trial Tuesday on two assault charges.
