A former American Idol and The Voice singer was cuffed and arrested in Los Angeles on Sunday. Cops charged him with a trespassing charge after confronting him on a public train.
American Idol finalist Dimitrius Graham ended up behind bars with the whole thing captured on video. The video showed two cops confronting Graham on an LA Metro Train.
The singer said, "Get off of me. I'm a citizen. Why are you touching me? Why are you pushing me? Okay, I'm trying to go upstairs guys to go buy a tap card and they're actually grabbing me and pulling on me and they're grabbing me."
'American Idol' Singer Arrested Over Train Ticket
The entire incident allegedly happened over a Metro ticket that cost less than $2. Graham claimed that he bought a Metro ticket, but he couldn't show officers because his phone was dead. The former American Idol singer also alleged that cops refused to let him go buy a physical ticket.
Graham believes that he is a victim of racial profiling. He claims that he lost a veneer and suffered a fractured wrist due to how officers manhandled him. He wrote on Instagram, "This happened to me... so it can definitely happen to you. Under the American flag, we all have rights. Don't ever forget that."
He added, "When you leave the house, move with clear intentions. Protect yourself. Don't be a follower — be aware. And if you ever have an altercation with police, stay calm, stay respectful... but don't be afraid to ask for badge numbers. That's your right. Being young doesn't mean being powerless. Stand on your rights. Stand on who you are."
However, according to the LAPD, the singer was allegedly acting erratically when officers approached. Police claim they asked Graham to leave the Metro, but he refused. They also claim that he only offered to buy a ticket after he was already detained.
Due to his alleged injuries, police filed a use-of-force report. But a supervisor found no wrongdoing related to how the pair of officers acted. We'll keep you updated as more information comes to light.
