Rapper Chief Keef arrested in armed robbery at producer’s home
The rapper known as Chief Keef was arrested Thursday in connection with a home invasion robbery that occurred last week at the home of his former music producer, Ramsay Tha Great, according to the victim and authorities.
The 21-year-old Chicago rapper, whose real name is Keith Cozart, was taken into custody by a team of Los Angeles Police Department special operations officers at his Tarzana home in the 5100 block of Otis Avenue around 4 p.m. A second man, Darron Rose, 24, was also arrested, according to LAPD Lt. Tim Torsney.
Both men were booked on suspicion of home invasion robbery. Cozart and Rose were being held on $500,000 and $250,000 bail respectively, according to authorities.
Cozart’s attorney Michael Goldstein said officers broke down part of a wall to gain entry to the rapper’s home. He said officers did not recover a gun during the search.
“I don’t why they need the SWAT team,” Goldstein said. “My client doesn’t have a felony conviction.”
Footage of police detaining the rapper was broadcast by KNBC-TV Channel 4.
LAPD Officer Tony Im confirmed that the search and arrests were in connection with a Jan. 19 robbery at a home in the San Fernando Valley but declined to name the victim. At least two men armed with assault rifles broke into the home, according to Im, and assaulted the victim.
Cozart’s former producer however has taken to social media saying he was the target of the violent attack and has condemned his former client.
While lying in a hospital bed, the producer described the assault in a video. He said he was woken up by someone at his door. When he went to see who it was, Cozart and another man, who was armed with an AK-47, pushed their way into his room, he said. They started hitting him in the face.
“He stole my $1,600, he stole my rings and he stole my a Rolex watch,” the producer said.
The victim also posted photos of himself on social media that revealed bruises, swelling and a cut near his eyebrow. He also wore a neck brace.
“This ain’t Grand Theft Auto,” the producer said on Instagram. “You have been playing too much of that. It’s real life. You can’t do that.”
Following Cozart’s arrest Thursday, some fans criticized the victim and threatened to harm him for “snitching.”
This provoked an angry response from the music producer.
“Yo it’s real sad to see my black community condone home invasion, armed robbery with deadly assault — hitting me the face with an AK-47,” he said on a video posted to Instagram.
“It’s Chief Keef’s fault,” the producer said. “If he didn’t do this to me, he didn’t run in my crib like that, if he didn’t jump me, punch me in the face, rob me, home invasion, he wouldn’t be going to jail.”
In 2015, two men were found fatally shot in a Compton marijuana dispensary that bore Chief Keef’s name. But the rapper’s manager denied that he had any formal ties to the dispensary, known as the Chief Keef Glo Shop.
Twitter: @MattHjourno
ALSO
Video shows California prisoners offering protection and escape help to drug lord ‘El Chapo’
Russian ‘wife’ of man accused of conspiring with gunman in San Bernardino attack pleads guilty
UPDATES:
1:50 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from Chief Keef’s attorney Michael Goldstein.
8:15 a.m. Jan. 27: This article was updated with comments from Ramsay Tha Great and the arrest of Chief Keef.
This article was originally published at 11:55 p.m. on Jan. 26.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
