Senegalese-American singer, Aliaune Thiam, popularly known as Akon, was arrested last Friday by police in Chamblee, northeast of Atlanta, Georgia.
According to TMZ, the detention lasted nearly six hours after authorities acted on a bench warrant linked to his failure to appear in court.
The arrest stemmed from a driving incident in Roswell, New Mexico, where it was discovered that Akon’s driver’s licence had been suspended since January 2023.
In a prior incident in September, his white Tesla Cybertruck was found stranded on a Georgia road due to a dead battery.
Further checks revealed that the vehicle lacked valid insurance, and the rapper’s licence suspension was tied to an earlier missed court appearance.
Police said that Akon cooperated during the arrest and that a vape found in the vehicle was seized.
The action followed a traffic camera alert that flagged the vehicle for defaulting on an outstanding warrant.
After being booked into DeKalb County jail on November 7, Akon was released on bail the same day.
A mugshot of him in a black hoodie circulated widely online.
Despite the arrest, he resumed his musical tour in New Delhi, India, on November 10.
No official statement has been issued by Akon or his representatives regarding the arrest and related events.
