Kodak Black was arrested on drug and weapons charges as the rapper tried to cross from Canada into the United States near Niagara Falls, law enforcement officials said Thursday.
Black, whose legal name is Bill Kapri, was driving two other people in a Cadillac Escalade with temporary California registration across the Lewiston-Queenston International Bridge from Queenston, Ontario, to Lewiston, New York, at 7:20 p.m. Eastern time on April 17, 2019, according to New York state police. It was unclear where the men in the Escalade and a second car were headed, but Black had been scheduled to perform that night in Boston, about 400 miles (640 kilometers) east.
The men told border agents that they had marijuana and firearms, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said in an emailed statement. State police, who were called in, said that Black was found to have marijuana, and a loaded Glock 9 mm pistol was discovered in the vehicle. No one in the car had a permit for the pistol.
The 21-year-old rapper from Miramar, Florida, was arrested on charges of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and unlawful possession of marijuana.
Black, who also faces a charge in South Carolina of first-degree criminal sexual misconduct on allegations he raped a woman after a 2016 concert, was arraigned in a town court and remanded to county jail.
The Niagara County, New York, Sheriff’s Office released mug shots of rapper Kodak Black, who was arrested with three others April 17, 2019, after authorities said they crossed the Lewiston-Queenston International Bridge from Ontario, Canada, to New York with marijuana and firearms. Black, who was scheduled to perform in Boston the night of his arrest, was released on bail. (Niagara County Sheriff’s Office via The Associated Press)
A phone message seeking comment was left with Black’s attorney. Representatives at Black’s record label and Live Nation didn’t reply to emails seeking comment from The Associated Press.
Prosecutors said April 18, 2019, afternoon that Black was released from jail after posting bail, which was $20,000 cash or $40,000 bond. Video taken by Buffalo ABC affiliate WKBW-TV shows Black walking to a car after posting bail and hiding his face with what appears to be a fan of $100 bills.
The two passengers in the Escalade face a weapons charge. The driver of the second car, a Porsche, faces marijuana and weapons charges after attempting to cross with three loaded handguns in the car, police said.
The four men are due in court May 8, 2019.
Black’s hits include “Tunnel Vision,” ”Wake Up in the City” with Bruno Mars and Gucci Mane, “No Flockin’,” and “Zeze,” which peaked at No. 2 on Billboard Hot 100 chart. His last album, 2018’s “Dying to Live,” debuted at No. 1 on the charts.
In Boston, police responded to what they described as “generally unruly behavior” April 17 after Black’s scheduled shows at a city club were canceled.
Department spokesperson Officer Stephen McNulty said police responded to the House of Blues on reports of a disturbance. One man was arrested for allegedly assaulting a member of the club’s security staff, and two people required medical assistance.
Police say there were about 200 people outside the club and it took about 30 minutes to disperse the crowd.
