The Atlanta trap rapper was released early this morning after weeks in custody following his arrest on charges that include two felony counts tied to an alleged confrontation with a Georgia trooper
OJ da Juiceman is out of jail and says his career has not missed a step. The Atlanta trap rapper was released from custody early Saturday morning after spending several weeks behind bars following his March 15 arrest by the Georgia State Patrol. According to his manager, Rueben Wood, the rapper was working on new music before his arrest and fans will be hearing it very soon. Live performances are also planned for the coming days.
What led to his arrest
According to Georgia State Patrol, the incident behind OJ da Juiceman’s arrest dates back to late January, when a trooper alleged the rapper tailgated and honked at him while the trooper was merging into the HOV lane on Interstate 20 East in Atlanta. The trooper claims OJ then passed him, pointed a black handgun in his direction and sped away, driving erratically through traffic. When the trooper caught up to him, the officer alleges OJ pointed the weapon at him a second time before again driving away at speed. Investigators identified OJ and a Nissan Altima connected to him, and an arrest warrant was issued before he was taken into custody on March 15.
The 10 charges he faces
OJ da Juiceman was charged with 10 offenses in connection with the alleged incident. The most serious are 2 felony counts and 1 misdemeanor directly related to the confrontation with law enforcement. The charges are: 1. One felony count of aggravated assault upon a public safety officer, 2. One felony count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, 3. One misdemeanor count of pointing or aiming a gun at another person, as well as multiple additional misdemeanor traffic offenses connected to the reckless driving described in the trooper’s account.
A sworn affidavit challenges the account
A sworn affidavit filed in connection with his case pushes back against the central claim that OJ was the driver of the vehicle in question. A woman who knows the rapper stated in the affidavit that she rented a car at his request and permitted another man to use it. She maintains that, to her knowledge, OJ was not the one driving the vehicle at the time of the alleged incident. His management has consistently stated that he holds law enforcement in high regard, and his attorney previously argued in his bond request that as a well-known Atlanta musician and public figure with deep roots in Georgia, he poses no flight risk.
A medical incident while incarcerated
OJ da Juiceman experienced a medical incident while in custody, which his management attributed to complications related to his Type 1 diabetes. Wood confirmed Saturday that the rapper is doing well now that he is out of jail and able to receive proper insulin treatments. No additional details about the nature of the medical episode or its severity during his time in custody were provided.
What comes next
With his release confirmed, OJ da Juiceman’s team says he is looking ahead. New music recorded before his arrest is expected to be released in the near future, and stage appearances are planned for the coming days. His legal case remains active, and the felony charges he faces carry serious potential consequences if the case proceeds to trial. No court dates have been publicly announced as of Saturday. Given the affidavit contesting the identification of the driver and his management’s firm position on his behalf, the legal proceedings are expected to be contested.
Story credit: TMZ