CMPD Launches Internal Investigation After DaBaby Arrest

CHARLOTTE, NC — Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has launched an internal investigation after officers arrested a Charlotte rapper and charged him with marijuana possession and resisting an officer following his performance at the Bojangles Coliseum Monday night, only to reduce the charges to citations later in the evening..

According to a CMPD report, officers providing security at the Bojangles Coliseum , located at 2700 East Independence Boulevard “smelled a strong odor of marijuana” coming from a white Dodge Charger that arrived at the arena, and saw marijuana in plain view inside the vehicle. Rapper Jonathan Kirk, who performs under the stage name DaBaby, was in the backseat of the vehicle.

“Based on the probable cause of the marijuana in plain view officers stated they observed, they determined that they would speak with Kirk at the conclusion of the concert,” CMPD said.

Around 11 p.m., Kirk exited the coliseum. CMPD said that was when officers attempted to speak with Kirk.

“Officers stated that Kirk walked away from them and he refused to speak with the officers,” CMPD said. The officers then detained Kirk and placed him in handcuffs and searched the vehicle, where they found marijuana.

“Initially, officers decided to arrest and charge Kirk with misdemeanor possession of marijuana (N.C.G.S. 90-95(a)(3)) and resist, obstruct and delay (N.C.G.S. 14-223),” CMPD said. But after transporting him to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Department, officers decided to issue him citations for misdemeanor possession of marijuana and resist, obstruct and delay.

“Officers stated that they offered to drive Kirk anywhere he wanted to go; however, he did not want a ride and walked out of the jail with his two citations,” CMPD said. “The CMPD has launched an Internal Affairs investigation to determine if officers followed department policies and directives during the incident.”

Kirk, who had earlier in the day participated in a holiday charity event for hundreds of local children, denied that he resisted officers and said he would soon release video of the incident following his show taken by his production team, WSOC reported. “Y'all will see how dirty the CMPD police department did me during the holidays in front of my daughter while I was putting a show on for my city,” he told the station.