Arrested in Florida, Rod Wave’s attorneys challenge allegations, asserting innocence and lack of evidence
On Wednesday, rapper Rod Wave was arrested in Manatee County, Florida, on charges related to the possession of ammunition or a weapon, as confirmed by the St. Petersburg Police Department. The arrest stemmed from suspicions linking Rod Wave, born Rodarius Marcell Green, to a gang-related shooting incident in Florida, which resulted in four people sustaining non-life-threatening injuries on the night of March 31.
The St. Petersburg police detailed that the shooting occurred amid a verbal altercation among a group of men, with the victims including three men in their 20s and a 17-year-old woman. Following his arrest, Rod Wave was transported to Manatee County Jail, where he was identified as a convicted felon, a claim his legal representatives have vehemently denied.
In defence of Rod Wave, attorneys Bradford Cohen and Mark Rankin took to social media to dispute the charges and the portrayal of Rod as a felon, asserting that he neither possessed ammunition nor had a felon status. Their statement emphasized a lack of evidence for the arrest, highlighting an immediate acknowledgement from both the prosecutor and the judge regarding the insufficiency of evidence to support the charges, leading to Rod Wave’s release on the same day.
This arrest follows a previous encounter with law enforcement in 2022 when Rod Wave was arrested on charges of domestic battery by strangulation, involving an alleged altercation with his ex-girlfriend. Attorney Bradford Cohen described the incident as a misunderstanding between the couple, which unfortunately led to Rod Wave’s arrest.
Amidst these legal challenges, Rod Wave has continued to make his mark on the music industry. In 2022, he released “Beautiful Mind,” his second album to top the Billboard 200 chart. His follow-up album in 2023, “Nostalgia,” featured a collaboration with 21 Savage on the track “Turks & Caicos,” enjoying two weeks at the number-one spot on the charts.
The unfolding situation puts a spotlight on the legal intricacies facing celebrities, underscoring the importance of thorough investigations and the potential for misunderstandings in high-profile cases. As the legal process progresses, Rod Wave’s case continues to garner attention, with further clarification sought from the St. Petersburg Police Department.
