Thursday night (Feb 21), rapper MC Hammer was arrested at the Hacienda Crossings shopping center on suspicion of resisting an officer and obstructing an officer in the performance of his duties, according to Dublin, California police spokesman Herb Walters. Officers say Hammer was is in a vehicle that had expired registration in which he was not the registered owner. “After asking Hammer who the registered owner was he became very argumentative and refused to answer the officer’s questions,” Walters states in an email to CNN.
After being booked and released on bail from Santa Rita Jail, Hammer, 50, says the incident was dripping with racial profiling. The late 80s-early 90s rap star took to Twitter yesterday (Feb 23) in a series of tweets with his side of the story.
"chubby elvis looking dude was tapping on my car window, I rolled down the window and he said' "Are you on parole or probation? While I was handing him my ID he reached in my car and tried to pull me out the car but forgot he was on a steady donut diet. .. It was comical to me until he pulled out his guns, blew his whistle and yelled for help (MallCop) !!! But make no mistake he's dangerous .. only thing more dangerous than a scared man with a gun, is a scared man with an agenda, a gun and a badge. I was citied for obstruction smh … You have to know me to understand I was laughing when he was grunting and pulling on me .. I had just left the weight room … I will now answer his question, contrary to his personal beliefs, all people of color are not on parole or probation fat boy !!! Instead of being bitter, I'm taking the opportunity to make this a "teachable moment" and "eye opener" for my many friends & colleagues."
He also acknowledges an occurrence at the police station that has him skeptical. The police staff administered a “skin test” with injections, and Hammer compared it to the sinister Tuskegee Syphilis experiment which is synonymous with racist and unethical medical experimentations.
“My biggest concern ? What was it that they injected into my arm under the guise of a "Skin Test"? #SantaRita #Tuskegee," he tweeted.
Ironically, Hammer was also upset because he was scheduled to speak to inmates at San Quentin prison Friday morning in “The Last Mile” program, a program the “helps bridge the gap between incarceration and freedom.”
It was a wild day for rap music star MC Hammer on Tuesday when he got arrested in Dublin, California. The rapper, born Stanley Kirk Burrell, had the police called on him by an unknown source and then tweeted his side of the story to his fans. What began as an ordinary day quickly became one to remember as the details about Hammer’s arrest emerged online.
It appears that MC Hammer ran afoul of law enforcement officers who were responding to a call they received from someone claiming that there was suspicious activity occurring at a property belonging to the artist. When police arrived at the scene, it looks like Hammer refused orders to leave and ended up getting cuffed and taken into custody for obstruction.
The ‘U Can’t Touch This’ singer wasn’t shy about sharing what happened with his 7 million Twitter followers either. He posted tweets saying he felt disrespected during the incident but thanked God because things could have been much worse! Is this just another case of celebrity entitlement gone wrong or is there more to this story? Keep reading to find out!
Overview Of The Incident
It was a strange Thursday evening for rap icon MC Hammer. The rapper-turned-entrepreneur had been arrested in Dublin, California on suspicion of obstruction and resisting arrest. Reports filled social media as news outlets reported that Hammer himself tweeted about the altercation with police.
The incident began when officers noticed an SUV stopped at a red light for an unusually long time. When they approached the vehicle, Hammer allegedly refused to identify himself or exit the car. He then reportedly attempted to flee the scene but was apprehended by officers after a brief pursuit.
In tweets following his release from custody, Hammer claimed he was wrongfully detained and accused law enforcement of being “overly aggressive” during their interaction with him. Onlookers took sides with either Hammer or the police while debate raged over whether the star’s celebrity status played any role in how events unfolded. Regardless of public opinion, one thing is certain: this isn’t likely to be the last we hear about this case.
Reactions And Commentary
The incident sparked a flurry of reactions and commentary from fans and pundits alike. Many argued that MC Hammer’s celebrity status likely played a role in the altercation, with some speculating that officers were more aggressive because they recognized him. Others countered this claim by saying it was standard protocol for police to take extra caution when dealing with someone who had refused to identify himself or obey their commands.
Meanwhile, many took issue with Hammer’s own behavior during the incident, accusing him of unnecessarily escalating an already tense situation. Supporters of the rapper said he was within his rights not to provide identification and defended his decision to flee as an act of self-preservation in light of what he perceived as unreasonable force being used against him.
In any case, the back-and-forth between those on either side shows no sign of abating anytime soon. While both sides will continue to debate over whether police acted appropriately or if Hammer should have complied with their demands, only time – and perhaps a court ruling – will reveal how this story ends.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the recent arrest of MC Hammer has sparked a variety of reactions and commentary from all over. Many have argued that he was unfairly targeted by police officers due to his celebrity status, while others maintain that law enforcement acted appropriately based on the situation at hand. Regardless of which side one takes, it’s clear that this incident is far from resolved and will likely be discussed for some time to come.
As for me personally, I think Hammer handled the situation as best he could under the circumstances. He managed to remain calm when being questioned by officers and provided an explanation in a respectful manner. It also appears that he understood his rights and utilized them properly throughout the encounter.
At the end of the day, we should take away two important lessons: first, always remember your rights during interactions with law enforcement; second, don’t let anyone silence you or prevent you from speaking up about what happened. These are valuable life lessons that everyone can learn from MC Hammer’s experience.
