ATLANTA — The attorney for a local singer arrested on drug charges, says his client was targeted during a traffic stop.
Tyrone Griffin, better known as Ty Dolla $ign, and six others were stopped by Atlanta police along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Wednesday afternoon.
Officers said the smell of marijuana was coming from the car, so they searched the vehicle and found marijuana and cocaine.
Griffin is charged with possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana (less than one ounce) and obstruction of a law enforcement officer.
Griffin, in a jail jumpsuit and handcuffs went before a Fulton County judge Thursday morning.
Channel 2's Audrey Washington spoke with Griffin's attorney, Drew Findling, who said his client is innocent.
“Did he actually have drugs on him?” Washington asked Findling.
“There were no drugs on his person at all. Makes no sense at all,” Findling said.
“Did he have drugs inside the car?” Washington asked Findling.
“Apparently there was a small amount of some drug in the car and they let five people walk away and the international superstar go into custody,” Findling said.
TRENDING STORIES:
Inside court, Griffin had nothing to say, but Findling pointed out that the 36-year-old has no real criminal history and questioned why police released the other people in the vehicle.
Findling believes his client was targeted.
“Another case where a musical artist is targeted by law enforcement. There’s no other way that five people walk away and one person is charged,” Findling said.
In court, the judge set bond at $6,000.
“Just silliness and really embarrassing and that embarrassment really manifested itself with a $6,000 bond,” Findling told Washington.
The singer was scheduled to perform at Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood Wednesday night. He has recently collaborated with artists including Beyonce, Jay-Z, Kanye West and Drake.
Griffin has a number of performances scheduled for the coming weeks, but he is due back in court on Sept. 20.
Cox Media Group
