‘Suge’ Knight Called Innocent

Nation of Islam minister Tony Muhammad said Wednesday that rap mogul Marion “Suge” Knight did not assault a parking lot attendant last month, as parole officials have alleged.

Muhammad said he witnessed the events of June 21 at a Hollywood nightclub, where Knight allegedly struck a parking lot attendant.

“I saw Mr. Knight enter into his car, never striking anyone,” Muhammad said. “You never saw Mr. Knight touch anyone. In fact, when he first arrived, he tipped the parking attendant,” giving him $100, Muhammad said.

Knight’s lawyer, Rose Kogeman, said Muhammad is one of eight witnesses who will state that the rap mogul struck no one. With Knight in County Jail and facing up to a year in prison if state officials succeed in revoking his parole, Kogeman said an unidentified man was involved in the altercation, not her client.

“Unfortunately for Mr. Knight, it appears that he was arrested prior to a full investigation,” the attorney said, asserting that none of the witnesses she found were questioned by police before her client was arrested. “Mr. Knight maintains his innocence.... He will be exonerated.”

Los Angeles Police Det. Mike Thrasher said there were several witnesses to the incident.

Knight has not been charged with a crime.

Muhammad, Western regional representative of the Nation of Islam, said he accompanied Knight to his car in the White Lotus parking lot.

He said he had met with Knight that evening to make plans for a “100,000-Man March” in Los Angeles in October to promote peace among gangs.

Russ Heimerich, a spokesman for the state Department of Corrections, said the valet had parked Knight’s car in such a way that it was blocked in by other vehicles.

According to a Los Angeles police report, Knight became upset and punched the attendant in the face from behind, Heimerich said.

Kogeman and Muhammad alleged Wednesday that the unidentified man had an altercation with the valet as Knight was waiting for his car. Kogeman said the man, who is not an associate of Knight, slapped the valet.

The attorney refused to name the other witnesses.

If Knight is found to have committed assault, it would be his second parole violation in a year.

In February, he was determined to have violated parole by associating with a gang member. He was sentenced to time served -- from Dec. 23. to Feb. 25 -- and ordered to complete 200 hours of community service.

The founder of Death Row Records was convicted in 1992 of assault and weapons violations and was placed on probation. In 1996, he was jailed for five years for violating probation after he and several associates, including rap star Tupac Shakur, beat a gang rival at a Las Vegas hotel. Three hours later, Shakur was shot dead.