As he was getting set to take the stage at the Roseland Ballroom in New York, Rakim was taken in to police custody on a warrant issued in 2001. The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department arrested Rakim also known as William Griffin minutes before he was set to take the stage. Chief Alan Otto said “It stemmed from a warrant issued in 2001 regarding a paternity matter and an issue of nonpayment of support He kind of knew we were looking for him”.
Rakim was arrested without incident. Yesterday Rakim appeared before a family court hearing officer and was order to pay $2,000 in child support payments pending an outcome on his case. After posting the payment Rakim was released and ordered to return to court on May 26th. Rakim’s lawyer Robert Kalina says Rakim has consistently made child support payments for his 14 year old son since he was born. “Over the years there have been disputes between him and the mother of the child, financial disputes,” Kalina said. “If he was aware that a warrant had been issued, he certainly would have gone to court.”
