Singer Akon was reportedly arrested in metro Atlanta last week after police identified his Tesla Cybertruck as being connected to an active warrant, according to the Chamblee Police Department.
The 52-year-old Senegalese-American artist, whose real name is Aliaune Badara Thiam, was detained and booked into the DeKalb County Jail around 12:30 p.m., jail documents indicate. He was released roughly six hours later.
An incident report reveals that around 11 a.m., Chamblee police received a Flock camera alert regarding a white 2024 Tesla Cybertruck wanted by the Roswell Police Department.
Officers traced the vehicle to Tint World on Chamblee Dunwoody Road, where they spotted a man nearby who matched the owner’s description.
After confirming his identity through his driver’s license, officers informed Akon about the warrant. The singer reportedly stayed calm and told police he was aware of it. He was then handcuffed, searched for weapons, and detained while authorities verified the warrant with Roswell police.
No illegal items or weapons were found, and the Cybertruck, which was in for servicing, was not impounded.
Akon was later transported to the Smyrna City Jail, where he was booked on a failure to appear charge related to a suspended driver’s license.
According to Roswell police records, the warrant originated from an earlier incident on September 10, when officers discovered Akon stranded in his Tesla on Holcomb Bridge Road after its battery had died.
Checks revealed that the vehicle had no valid insurance, and Akon was driving with a license suspended since January 2023. He was cited for driving with a suspended license and released at the time. Police also confiscated an illegal vape found inside the vehicle’s console.
Akon, a Grammy-nominated artist, rose to fame in the early 2000s with chart-topping songs like “Locked Up,” “Smack That,” “Soul Survivor,” and “Lonely.” He is also widely recognized for his philanthropic initiatives and business projects in Africa.
This arrest adds to a history of legal issues for the singer. In 1998, Akon was jailed for several months over car theft allegations that were later dismissed. In 2008, he pleaded guilty to second-degree harassment after throwing a fan off stage during a concert in New York, for which he received community service and a fine.
Despite the recent arrest, Akon remains active in his music career. He is currently on tour in India, having performed in Delhi on November 9, with upcoming shows scheduled for Bengaluru on November 14 and Mumbai on November 16. Following his India tour, he is set to perform in Las Vegas on January 3, 2026.