Akon, born Aliaune Thiam, was arrested last week in DeKalb County, Georgia, following an outstanding warrant. The “Locked Up” singer was apprehended by the Chamblee Police Department on Friday morning and released from jail after six hours. His mugshot shows him wearing a black hoodie and maintaining a stone-faced expression.
The arrest stemmed from a bench warrant linked to an incident in September when Akon was driving a Tesla Cybertruck in Roswell, Georgia. Police found him stranded on the road due to a dead battery. Officers discovered his license had been suspended for failure to appear from January 2023.
During the initial encounter, Akon was issued a citation for driving with a suspended license. An illegal vape was also confiscated from the center console of his vehicle. The singer remained calm during his arrest and confirmed awareness of the outstanding warrant, according to an arrest report obtained by The Independent.
Background on Prior Incident
The Tesla Cybertruck was towed after being found stranded, prompting police to check registration records. Akon was cited, and the matter escalated due to a clerical error that left the suspended license active in the system. Authorities say the issue will be rectified in court in early December.
The arrest occurred when security cameras at Tint World, an auto styling center, identified a vehicle registered to someone with an out-of-county warrant. Akon had reportedly dropped off his car for services when police arrived to execute the arrest.
Akon has previously been arrested six times but was only convicted once for gun possession in New Jersey in 1998, receiving three years probation. He rose to fame in the early 2000s with hits like “Locked Up” and “Smack That”.
The singer continues to tour in India and has remained active on social media. On Wednesday morning following his arrest, he posted a video captioned “It’s a beautiful day.” No public statement has been issued directly by Akon regarding the arrest.
His representative emphasized the arrest was a result of a clerical issue, stating that “the suspended license should have never been escalated, it was paid but not properly entered into the system.” The matter is expected to be addressed legally in the coming weeks.
Akon’s personal life has also been in the spotlight, with his wife Tomeka Thiam filing for divorce in September after 28 years of marriage. He is seeking joint legal custody and sole physical custody of their 17-year-old daughter, alongside spousal support.
The singer’s brief detention in Georgia concluded without further incident. Law enforcement confirmed his release and noted that police investigations related to the original license suspension remain ongoing. Akon has resumed his professional engagements while waiting for the resolution of the clerical matter in court.
