Rapper Nelly arrested in Tennessee on felony drug charges

USPA News - American rapper Nelly was arrested Saturday and charged with felony possession of drugs after the bus he was traveling on was pulled over in Tennessee, the highway patrol said. A convicted felon carrying a handgun was also taken into custody.

Nelly, whose real name is Cornell Haynes, Jr., was arrested on Interstate 40 in Putnam County after Tennessee State Trooper Michael Loftis pulled over a motor coach bus for failing to display a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and International Fuel Tax Association (IFTA) sticker on the vehicle. During an inspection of the bus, Loftis noticed an odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle, after which he and Sgt. Donald Jennings conducted a probable cause search of the bus. This led to the discovery of a plastic bag containing 5 colored crystal-type rocks that tested positive for methamphetamine, as well as a small amount of marijuana and other drug paraphernalia. "Further investigation revealed approximately 100 small Ziploc bags that are commonly associated with the sale of narcotics and numerous handguns, including a gold-plated 50-caliber Desert Eagle pistol, a 45-caliber Tarus pistol, and a 500 magnum Smith and Wesson," the Tennessee Highway Patrol said in a statement. Nelly was charged with felony possession of drugs, simple possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was taken to the Putnam County Jail along with 44-year-old convicted felon Brian Jones, who was in possession of a handgun.