Tyran “Ty Ty” Smith, an associate of Jay-Z, may be considered a fugitive from the law after he missed a court date in Dec. to answer to misdemeanor charges that he pepper-sprayed R.Kelly.
According to Page Six, the new allegations claim that Smith is attempting to avoid a compromising position in a future civil case.
“To go on the run from a misdemeanor assault seems like he’s trying to avoid being a witness in the civil case,” Kelly’s lawyer, Ed Hayes, said.
The motives behind these new revelations could be personal. Kelly charges that Smith pepper-sprayed him as he tried to make his way to the stage at a Madison Square Garden in Oct. of 2004. The result was a $75 million lawsuit levied by the R&B singer. When he was allegedly sprayed, Kelly has said that a man flashed a gun from the crowd and he feared for his safety.
Last month, Jay-Z countersued Kelly. Nobody in Jay-Z’s camp was available for comment and no law enforcement officials commented on the matter.