From Hit Song to Real-Life Handcuffs: Akon's Arrest
In a bizarre turn of events that mirrored his own lyrics, singer Akon found himself behind bars for six hours last week after being arrested in Georgia. The Senegalese-American artist, whose real name is Aliaune Thiam, was taken into custody on Friday, November 7, outside a car styling shop in the Atlanta suburb of Chamblee.
The Chain of Events Leading to Arrest
The situation began back in January 2023 when the 52-year-old singer had his driver's license suspended for failing to appear in court. The case escalated this September when Akon was driving his white Tesla Cybertruck in the Atlanta suburb of Roswell. His vehicle broke down on Holcomb Bridge Road, with the singer reportedly telling police that his car battery had died.
While officers assisted him by arranging for the vehicle to be towed, they discovered during the wait that he was driving with a suspended license. Police issued him a citation for this offence. The police report also noted that an illegal vape was seized from the centre console during the vehicle inventory and submitted for destruction. Akon was released from the scene, but his Cybertruck was impounded.
High-Tech Security System Triggers Final Arrest
The final chapter unfolded last week when Akon visited Tint World, a car styling business in Chamblee. The business was equipped with Flock Cameras featuring automatic license plate reader (ALPR) technology. This system identified that his car was registered to someone with an outstanding arrest warrant, prompting the police to be called to the scene.
According to the Chamblee Police Department, officers arrived just after 11am and found Akon standing outside his automobile. They confirmed his identity and informed him of the bench warrant. The arrest report obtained by the Independent noted that Akon was tranquil during his arrest, confirming he knew about the warrant and complying with officers' orders.
His mugshot was taken, showing him looking emotionless in a black hoodie, and he was jailed for six hours before being released.
Personal Life Developments
On the personal front, Akon recently began divorce proceedings with his estranged wife Tomeka Thiam, who filed to end their marriage in September. The filing came just four days before what would have been their 29th wedding anniversary. The couple, who share a 17-year-old daughter named Journey, are divorcing on grounds of irreconcilable differences.
The Ghetto hitmaker, a devout Muslim who has expressed belief in polygamy, has been subject to conflicting reports about how many wives he currently has, with estimates ranging from two to four. He has publicly stated he has nine children.
