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Hip-hop is a cultural movement that started in the 80s and 90s. Its iconic look, dance, and music style molded much of the millennial generation moving forward. It’s a cultural revolution that paved the way for the rise of stars like Rod Wave.
Unfortunately, popularity always comes with its set of challenges. For Rod Wave, it was when he was suddenly reminded of a previous charge that forced the court to issue a warrant for his arrest. So, is Rod Wave currently in jail? And if yes, what was his charge?
This article tackles the controversy surrounding Rod Wave and the warrant of arrest issued against him due to a previous incident. It also explains how the police got hold of this warrant, which led to his arrest.
Furthermore, this write-up talks about Rod’s career as a singer, the intricacies of having an outstanding warrant, and his response to the charges filed against him.
A public criminal record is something that can haunt previously incarcerated people for quite some time. Arrest records and convictions become public data.
That’s why if one can maintain a life free from run-ins with the law, they won’t have to worry about the skeletons in their closet.
If you have such a record in your file, you can request an expungement or sealing. Gather all pertinent information about your case and request the expungement with the help of a competent criminal defense lawyer.
Learn more about the required documents by visiting LookUpInmate.org.
Tampa Bay Rapper Rod Wave Arrested During Traffic Stop in St. Petersburg
When you blend RnB (Rhythm and Blues) with hip-hop, you get Rod Wave. His unique style ensured he came out with chart-topping hits.
Aside from his music success, the Florida rapper’s philanthropy garnered him the respect of his fans. However, all came crashing down when Rod Wave, whose real name is Rodarius Marcell Green, was arrested during a routine traffic stop in St. Petersburg, Florida.
The then-23-year-old rapper was involved in a traffic infraction with his vehicle, a Dodge Durango, on May 2, 2022.
A St. Petersburg police officer witnessed the incident and approached Wave’s vehicle. It was supposed to be a normal traffic stop, but to the officer’s surprise, he discovered an Osceola County warrant set for Rod Wave.
The warrant is for domestic battery by strangulation. The police officer immediately arrested and booked Wave into Pinellas County Jail on May 2, 2022.
Why Was Rod Wave Arrested?
Rod Wave’s arrest is due to the outstanding warrant for a felony charge of battery by strangulation.
Further investigation showed that the charge was due to an incident involving Wave and his ex-girlfriend. According to the arrest warrant, Wave allegedly entered his ex-girlfriend‘s home and choked her until she couldn’t breathe.
Wave admitted that he choked his ex-girlfriend, but it was because she was “talking to other men while they were broken up.”
Speculations on Rod Wave’s motive for choking the woman are numerous. However, his lawyer, Bradford Cohen, said the incident was a “misunderstanding between a boyfriend (Rod Wave) and (his) girlfriend.”
Cohen added that the misunderstanding resulted in Rod’s arrest. However, upon review of the evidence and interviewing witnesses, the state entered a “nolle pross or no info on the matter” and thus will not pursue charges.
Nolle prosequi or nolle pros is a Latin phrase that means “doesn’t wish to prosecute.” This legal notice signifies the prosecutor or plaintiff’s decision to abandon a lawsuit.
As a result, charges were eventually dropped, and the state released Wave from jail on May 3, 2022.
Cohen commented on Instagram that the misunderstanding can be misconstrued. According to him, the state attorney reviewed all evidence and witnesses and decided to drop the charges, which was the right decision.
Felony Charge After Being Arrested for Battery by Strangulation
Battery by strangulation is a felony offense, as stated in the Florida statute section 784.041.
Felony battery happens when you intentionally hit or touch someone against their will, causing significant injury, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement.
The battery by strangulation case is strong when prosecutors can prove beyond a reasonable doubt a specific manner of assault.
The defendant must intentionally and knowingly obstruct the victim’s ability to breathe or hinder blood circulation by:
- Pressing down on the victim’s neck or throat
- Blocking the mouth or nose which poses a risk of great bodily harm
In both cases, the effect on the victim is substantial bodily harm, which can lead to death.
A felony is the most severe type of criminal offense. The exact legal definition of a felony is not the same between states, but all agree that it’s a type of crime that may lead to lengthy prison time.
The federal government defines a felony as a criminal offense punishable by more than one year of prison time. Forty-three states define felony as the length of a sentence where the person is incarcerated.
On the other hand, some states use both sentence length and incarceration place to define whether a crime is a felony. In contrast, a misdemeanor is a lesser criminal offense that typically gets a prison sentence of less than one year.
Another thing that needs definition in Rod Wave’s case is domestic violence. This type of violence happens when the offender assaults or strangles the victim, who is a family or household member, needs to live currently, or has lived together with the offender in a singular dwelling unit. Casually dating partners aren’t covered by this statute.
Having a massive fight with in-laws not living under a singular unit doesn’t count as domestic violence, even if you choke them. However, that incident may result in a battery charge instead.
According to Flordia law, battery by strangulation is a third-degree felony. Upon conviction, the defendant can get a prison term of up to five years, with five years probation and a $5,000 fine.
Other consequences that happen after conviction of this crime include the following:
- Completing a 29-week “Batterers Intervention Program”
- Forfeiting gun ownership rights
- Losing a concealed weapons permit
- Struggling to obtain housing, jobs, or a professional license
Furthermore, this specific offense is ineligible to be expunged or sealed from your criminal record. So, suppose you or your loved one has the same felony battery charge. In that case, the criminal record becomes available to the public.
You can request the criminal records of incarcerated individuals by visiting LookUpInmate.org. You only need to input the name of the correctional facility they’re located in to access their files.
Did Rod Wave Get Charged?
At the time of the choking incident with his ex-girlfriend, Osceola County issued a warrant to arrest Rod Wave. However, the state dropped the charges against Rodarius Green, stating that the case was unsuitable for prosecution.
According to the arrest affidavit prepared by the St. Petersburg police department, they arrested Rod Wave on May 2, 2022. However, because prosecution is impossible, the state attorney dropped the case and didn’t file any charges against Rod Wave.
However, Rod Wave had other run-ins with the law. During Rod Wave’s younger days, law enforcement arrested the hip-hop celebrity more than once. Rod Wave’s first run-in with the law happened when he was still a teenager in 2014. The case was connected to burglary, but it was eventually dropped.
In 2016, the police arrested Wave again when they caught him with a pellet gun that caused his school to go on lockdown.
The authorities gave him probation for the misdemeanor charge. In 2018, Wave was again arrested for carrying a concealed weapon but didn’t serve any significant jail time.
The recent arrest in St. Petersburg was the last of the string of run-ins with the law for Rod Wave.
However, a saving grace for this disgraced celebrity is his philanthropy and goodwill to others juxtaposed with his offenses.
There are situations where Wave would give money to people. In one case, he gave $25,000 to his hometown, which captured the hearts and appreciation of many people, especially his fans.
Kindness can go a long way, especially if you provide people without asking for anything in return, which Rod Wave did to his community.
Rod Wave Announced Album Prior to Reports
Rod’s arrest came after he confirmed he’d just finished work on his new album, “Beautiful Mind.” Much to his dismay, the arrest happened at a crucial moment.
Rod’s fans looked forward to the new project, which he hinted at in January 2022. The rapper announced Future’s new single with another music artist, Drake, “Wait for U (freestyle).”
Furthermore, several of Rod Wave’s previous albums, like “Heart on Ice” and “Soulfly,” reached the number-one spot on the Billboard 200 chart. Afterward, Wave said he would someday retire from his rap music career.
In an Instagram video, Rod Wave said he’s only here for a little minute— he’d only be here a little longer.
Rod Wave Released From Jail in Florida on Bond
According to the arrest affidavit, which is a document containing comprehensive details of Rod Wave’s arrest, he came back a second time to his ex-girlfriend’s house.
Wave accused her of taking his phone and kicking storage shelves, grabbing multiple photos off the wall, and throwing them on the porch and sidewalk, then driving off.
A week after the incident with his ex-girlfriend, police arrested Wave during a traffic stop in St. Petersburg, FLA. The police took Wave to Pinellas County sheriff’s office, where he posted bail worth $5,000 and entered a not-guilty plea to the domestic battery by strangulation case.
Rod Wave Cleared After Allegations of Choking Ex-girlfriend Till She Couldn’t Breathe While Kids Were Home (Update)
After Rod Green’s arrest and booking due to a domestic battery charge, a new arrest affidavit shed more light on the felony case he was supposed to face.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, Green allegedly choked his ex-girlfriend on April 24 while their two kids were still in the house.
The victim, who remained unidentified, was reported to have a scratch near the left center of her neck. She added that during that incident, she was sleeping when Wave walked in and choked her until she couldn’t breathe.
Wave’s ex-girlfriend told police that she dated him for four years, and they had two children. She claimed that Wave had attacked her after accusing her of talking to other men.
However, despite the allegations against Rod Wave, the case didn’t move forward and got dropped. Many speculations may arise from the sudden ending of the felony case against Wave. However, what’s crucial is that Rod Wave is not in jail and currently faces no criminal charges.
When Is the New Album Released?
Rod Wave announced before that he’s bound to release another forthcoming project called “Nostalgia.” In an Instagram post, the trending rapper wrote, “(Sept, 15) Nostalgia, the album,” a simple post but denotes the release of his new music.
When the album was released, it quickly became a hit and topped the Billboard 200 charts again.
Rod Wave is working on other projects and is not in jail or prison. He is an example of how background checks can help monitor people with previous cases or issues with the law. A warrant of arrest doesn’t expire, so Rod Wave’s previous warrant was still active, which led to his arrest and booking.
Thus, people with previous run-ins with the law must check their public records for future problems.
If you need a handy site to check criminal records on file, visit LookUpInmate.org. You can browse over 7,000 correctional facilities and retrieve the necessary public records.
References
- Hip-hop
https://www.britannica.com/art/hip-hop - What’s the Difference Between a Misdemeanor vs. Felony?
https://www.findlaw.com/criminal/criminal-law-basics/what-distinguishes-a-misdemeanor-from-a-felony.html - Florida Rapper Rod Wave Arrested On Domestic Battery Charge
https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/florida-rapper-rod-wave-arrested-domestic-battery/