T.I. was arrested early Wednesday morning around 4 a.m. in Georgia after getting into an argument with his gated community’s security guard.
The whole thing started when Tip tried to get into his neighborhood without a key and the guard wouldn't let T.I. in. According to local ABC affiliate WBS-TV, T.I. asked the guard, “Don’t you know who I am?”
Tip then called a friend for backup during the argument. The exchange became bad enough that the police were called, who subsequently arrested T.I. and charged him with disorderly conduct, public drunkenness, and simple assault, per The Blast. WSB-TV also reported that T.I. was later released on bond.
However, according to TMZ, the guard let Tip into the neighborhood after the initial argument. He then returned to confront the guard again, which was when the cops were called. TMZ was told that while T.I. didn’t physically hurt the guard, the guard was afraid that Tip would hit him during the argument. In Georgia, that's perceived as an alleged simple assault.
The Blast spoke with Tip after he was released. He alleged that he caught the guard sleeping, and contended that the guard then “antagonized” him. T.I. said that while it was a “very heated debate,” it wasn’t physical, though the guard “may have been hurt by my words.” Tip also characterized local authorities as “white cops in a very white area.”
T.I.'s attorney Steve Sadow released a statement following the incident. “Tip was wrongfully arrested early this morning when he attempted to gain entrance into his gated community—where his wife 'Tiny' and his family reside,” he said. “The guard was sound asleep when Tip arrived at the guardhouse. It took Tip some time to wake up the sleeping guard. Tip clearly identified himself and sought entry. The guard refused entry. Tip was in contact with 'Tiny' by phone and 'Tiny' confirmed that Tip should be let in immediately. The guard continued to refuse entry without justification.”
“Words were exchanged and apparently the guard and/or a supervisor called the police,” Sadow continued. “When the police arrived, they were not interested in hearing Tip’s side of the story and wrongfully chose to end the situation by arresting Tip.”
