Just Jack Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 Busta Rhymes is busted again (New York-WABC, January 4, 2007) - Rapper Busta Rhymes surrendered to face charges he beat up a driver who asked for his back pay so he could buy Christmas gifts for his family. Police say Rhymes, whose real name is Trevor Smith, was charged with assault in the third degree, a misdemeanor. The 34-year-old rapper surrendered at the 1st Precinct station house in Tribeca at about 7:30 p.m. last night after returning from a trip to Africa. He was booked and fingerprinted and walked out of the station house at around 11:30 p.m. by two detectives. He is expected to be held overnight and arraigned in Lower Manhattan later today. Eyewitness News has learned that Rhymes is accused of a Dec. 26 assault of his former driver, 39-year-old Eddie Hatchett, in the his office at 84 West Broadway. The rapper was charged with punching and kicking Hatchett when the driver asked for 19 days of back pay. Hatchett told Rhymes he needed the money to buy a Christmas gift for his daughter. Investigators say Hackett was treated for minor injuries at Woodhull Hospital and released. The following day, Hatchett, who lives in Brooklyn, tried to file a complaint at the 83rd Precinct station house near his home. Officers directed him to the 1st Precinct, where the alleged assault occurred. Hatchett filed his charges there. It was the latest hit on Rhymes' growing rap sheet. In the past 12 months, Rhymes has been charged with possessing a weapon - a machete - assault, attempted assault and harassment for allegedly beating up a fan who spat on one of his cars in August. Last February, 29-year-old Israel Ramirez, a Rhymes bodyguard, was fatally shot at a star-studded video shoot in an industrial warehouse in Brooklyn. Rhymes pledged to get justice for Ramirez's family, but frustrated detectives by refusing to cooperate in the investigation into the still-unsolved crime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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