(AllHipHop News) R. Prophet, one of the founding members of southern rap group Nappy Roots, was involved in an altercation with Kentucky State Police over the weekend that eventually led to the 35-year-old being tasered, pepper sprayed, and arrested.
According to a report by local news affiliate WLKY, Prophet (born Kenneth Anthony) was the passenger in a vehicle that had been pulled over at a DUI checkpoint on the morning of 4/20.
Prophet was not placed under arrest after the initial stop and was given the chance to call someone to pick him up from the location. Police say that Prophet then began to show signs that he was under the influence.
“The guy refused to quit walking into the roadway. It was obvious to our troopers he was severely intoxicated,” said Kentucky State Police trooper Norm Chaffins.
At that point police attempted to arrest Prophet, but he allegedly resisted arrest. Officers tasered him multiple times in order to get handcuffs on him, and then several more times to get him into the squad car.
Once in the back of the vehicle, police say Prophet then began ramming his head against a side window forcing officers to use the taser and pepper spray to constrain him. Eventually, they had to restrain him with a seat belt.
“I think due to his high level of intoxication. I think he just didn’t want to go along with the program,” said Chaffins.
R. Prophet was one of the original members of Nappy Roots. While Prophet was born in Oakland, California, the group got its start at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green in the mid-90’s.
Nappy Roots garnered national attention in 2002 with their singles “Awnaw” and “Po’ Folks” off their debut platinum album Watermelon, Chicken, & Gritz. Prophet left the group in 2007 to pursue a solo career.
Current Nappy Roots member B. Stille spoke with TMZ. He told the site, “Even though we separated musically, that’s still my brother and I love him and so does everybody else in Nappy Roots … You never want to see something like this happen. He told me this morning the police tried to kill him with excessive force.”
R. Prophet has been charged with alcohol intoxication, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief, menacing, and assault of a police officer. He was released on bond the next day.