Rapper/actor Tip “T.I.” Harris promoting his movie “Takers” in Houston in 2010 (Photo Credit: Melvin Maya/Regal Media Group).
Unfortunately, it can happen to anyone including celebrities like rapper/actor/reality TV star, T.I., who’s government name is Clifford Harris.
Police officers searching for a possible suspect, and they mistakenly apprehend the wrong person.
BlackAmericaWeb reported, “According to TMZ, T.I. was catching a flight at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport and was arrested. There was an active warrant for a different Clifford Harris and mistakenly arrested Tip. The Clifford Harris police were looking for was a man from Baltimore, Maryland who had a warrant for violent acts towards women.
The rapper from Atlanta, who also goes by the nickname “Tip,” was released from custody within two hours after the false arrest.
Harris has had some run-ins with the law in recent years such as in 2018 when the “Rubber Band Man” star got arrested for attempting to enter his gated community late at night after security guard denied him entry.
After the run-in at the gated community, police arrested Harris for public intoxication and disorderly conduct.
In that situation, his lawyers claimed mistaken identity, saying that he did not act out aggressively.
Eventually, the charges got dropped.
Years ago, cops arrested T.I. on gun charges prior to a planned performance at the BET Awards.
Eboni Boykin-Patterson of The Daily Beast reported, “…T.I. had previously been arrested in 2009 and served seven months in prison for federal gun charges. He served another 10 months the following year for drug charges, which violated his probation at the time. Since his run-ins with the law, the rapper has steered clear of further legal trouble until Sunday mishap.”
Despite the case of mistaken identity, the Atlanta hip-hop legend has no hard feelings for those involved in his arrest.
T.I. said he has learned how to control his temper and enjoy the moment.
Many believe that this is why he did not blow up during the unfortunate incident.
Nevertheless, many critics of this ordeal have called for change.
XXL magazine reported, “More details have been released in connection to the mix-up surrounding T.I.’s recent arrest. According to a report made by The Baltimore Banner on Wednesday (Aug. 7), the situation stems from a woman named Crystal Gorham. Earlier this year, Gorham filed charges against a man who Gorham claimed assaulted her on multiple occasions and threatened her life. This resulted in a summons for the woman being issued on two counts of second-degree assault.
“Over a month later, Gorham reportedly filed charges of first and second-degree assault, use of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence and related offenses against the woman’s husband who she claimed punched, stalked and harassed her. She named the man as Clifford Harris Jr., which is T.I.’s government name, and even used the rapper’s birthdate. However, she listed a Baltimore address.”
When her two-page statement got to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a warrant was issued for the rapper’s arrest.
Law enforcement arrested T.I. on Aug. 4.
James Bentley, spokesperson for the Baltimore State Attorney’s Office, said, “This case highlights a concern that the State Attorney has raised previously and uncovers legislative changes that should be considered to ensure fair and appropriate use of the court commissioner’s office, including allowing input from our prosecutors before an arrest warrant is issued. We are investigating the circumstances surrounding the issuance of charges and the warrant in this case.”
Despite his past run-ins with the law, T.I. has continued to hold his own in music, film and television.
He burst on to the national hip-hop scene in October 2001 with his debut album, “I’m Serious.”
That album gave a glimpse of his potential.
But he really began to make waves with his 2003 album “Trap Muzik.”
That album featured singles like “24’s,” and “Rubber Band Man.”
The next year, he released one of his most celebrated albums, “Urban Legend,” which featured hits like “Motivation,” “Bring Em Out,” “ASAP” and “U Don’t Know Me.”
Like other hip-hop legends, T.I. eventually transitioned to acting.
One of his most beloved roles came in the coming-of-age hood classic “ATL,” which also featured Lauren London, Jason Weaver, Evan Ross, Keith David and Jackie Long.
“ATL” became such a huge hit in 2006 that fans still clamor for a sequel to the high school-themed movie.
Harris began to crossover theatrically with his appearance in another beloved movie “Takers,” which starred Chris Brown, Michael Ealy, Matt Dillon, Idris Elba, Hayden Christensen, Jay Hernandez and Chris Brown.
He has since appeared in Marvel’s” “Ant-Man” film franchise.
Prior to the 2010 release of “Takers,” Harris sat down with Todd A. Smith of RegalMag.com for an interview about the film.
During the interview, Smith asked if his trials and tribulations, combined with enormous success, would ever motivate him to produce a biopic on his life and career.
Harris replied, “Wow, that’s tough. Outside of ‘8 Mile’ I haven’t seen it done in a way that accurately closes the story out. How do you end the story? I think that…I don’t know it’s up for discussion. If it’s something that’s compelling; it would have to be…just an outstanding writer that wrote something that I respect and admire his work and presents a script to me that changes my mind…then it’s open for discussion. But I’m not just out to seek someone to do a biopic for myself.”
While a biopic is not on the horizon, Harris continues to stay busy in Hollywood with roles in “Fear” and “Da’Partments” last year.
