Entertainment

Rapper Lil Tjay Struggles With Police, Arrested While On Livestream

[Screenshot/TikTok/Public — @hijoshotit]

Leena Nasir Entertainment Reporter
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Police took popular rapper Lil Tjay into custody for reckless endangerment while he was on a livestream, and he continued taping while allegedly resisting arrest.

Lil Tjay was filming a short clip for his music video when police moved in and arrested him, according to a video posted by TMZ. The artist repeatedly told police not to touch him, and allegedly resisted arrest. At one point, the video became shaky as he appeared to become entangled with officers attempting to handcuff him. Onlookers could be heard encouraging him to comply.

The tense moments leading up to Lil Tjay’s arrest were all captured on the livestream.

“No, bro. Hell no. What’s in the car? I don’t know what’s in the car,” he said in the video, according to TMZ.

“Don’t touch me,” he said.

“There’s no firearm in the car,” he said, as he pushed back against officers that surrounded him.

Someone else ended up getting his phone and the recording continued.

A spokesperson for the NYPD confirmed details of the altercation.

“Police observed a male waving what appeared to be a black firearm from a sunroof of a moving motor vehicle,” he said, according to Billboard.

“The male was taken into custody and an imitation pistol was recovered,” they said.(RELATED: Famous Artist Sued Over $26,000 Worth Of Damaged Jewelry)

The spokesperson confirmed Lil Tjay, whose legal name is Tione Merritt, was arrested on charges of reckless endangerment, obstructing governmental administration and criminal possession of a weapon, according to Billboard.

It remains unclear if the artist has been released from custody. Future court dates have not yet been reported.