Rapper Flavor Flav faces domestic violence charges in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS — A former Public Enemy rapper known as Flavor Flav was arrested early Wednesday on several felony charges in connection with a domestic argument with his fiancee in which the rapper threatened the woman’s teenage son with a knife.
Entertainer William Jonathan Drayton Jr., 53, a rapper and reality TV star, was being held on $23,000 bail at the Clark County Jail, according to a release by the Las Vegas Police Department. He was taken into custody by officers responding to a domestic disturbance at a home in a residential neighborhood several miles southwest of the Las Vegas Strip.
He has been charged with domestic battery and assualt with a deadly weapon and is scheduled to make a court appearance Thursday.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that Drayton had argued with his fiancee and her 17-year-old son at a residence he co-owns with the woman. He threatened the teen after the youth tried to restrain him. The rapper suffered a small cut on his hand; no one else was injured.
Drayton, a native of Freeport, N.Y., became famous with Public Enemy frontman Chuck D and was known for yelling “Yeah, boy!” and “Flavor Flav!” during performances. His public persona also included wearing a skyscraper afro and a large clock on his chest.
The Review-Journal reported that Drayton was also arrested July 4 for possession of fireworks and disturbing the peace. He has also been cited recently for several traffic incidents and for possession of less than an ounce of a controlled substance.
In March, Drayton opened Flavor Flav House of Flavor restaurant in Las Vegas.
“My secret (shhhh) fried chicken recipe -- that’s the star. But we have a red velvet waffle too, and everyone goes ‘Ohhhh’ when they hear that. Go on, you can say it,” Drayton told reporters at the opening. “My parents owned a soul food diner. It inspired me to go to culinary school.” Did he get a degree? “I sure did. 1978. Albertson, N.Y.
The restaurant’s theme? “Things showcasing my career, a lot of pictures up of me and my celebrity friends. I’ll wait until we expand to put all my clocks on the wall.”
But the Review-Journal gave the soul food takeout restaurant a “C” grade, critcizing its fried chicken for “lack of flavor.”
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