Young Bloodz, Jeffrey Ray Grigsby, 29 and Sean Paul
Joseph, 27 who perform under the names J-Bo and Sean Paul
respectively were arrested in Coweta Country in Atlanta. The duo was
arrested along with their 12-person crew and charged with possession of marijuana
with intent to distribute as well as possession of firearms. The tour bus
was pulled over on I-85 on the way to their concert at the Firehouse Night Club
in Columbus. The Young Bloodz worked with Outkast on one of
their more notable songs, 85 South.
Officer Clinton Reynolds of the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office said he
pulled the bus over because the vehicle was traveling with expired tags. “When
I made contact with the driver, I was immediately hit with the odor of burning
marijuana coming out of the vehicle,” Reynolds said. “I told the
driver I smelled marijuana, and I called for backup units,” he added.
When officers searched the tour bus they found nearly a half pound
of marijuana and two firearms, including a Glock .40 and the Taurus .45
caliber. Reynolds said the marijuana was in divided into 11
plastic baggies hidden in various places on the tour bus, including one hidden
in a vacuum cleaner bag, an iPod box, a wastebasket and a tissue box. Reynolds
said the guns were found under two mattresses in the vehicle.
Everyone who was aboard the bus was charged for the marijuana and
firearms. They were all bailed out on Friday afternoon, said Reynolds,
who works with the sheriff’s office’s crime suppression unit. Tice
Merriweather, senior director of publicity for the group’s record label,
Jive Records, issued a statement early Friday evening. “I can confirm
that rap duo Youngbloodz were arrested last night in Atlanta on
possession of marijuana and firearms. The guys have never had any trouble with
the law. They are completely innocent and they will be exonerated from these
charges.”
