Footage of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ public arrest in New York hotel surfaces
Footage has captured the crushing moment Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs was arrested by two officers in a swanky New York hotel.
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Footage has emerged of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ public arrest at a five-star New York hotel.
The 54-year-old rapper, who is currently behind bars at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center after his bail was refused for a second time on Thursday, was charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and transportation to engage in prostitution last Monday.
CCTV video captured the seemingly sombre moment Combs was arrested at the Park Hyatt hotel in the heart of Manhattan.
In the footage, Combs is seen walking into the hotel with a group of men, where two male officers in white shirts are waiting for him inside.
The federal agents calmly make their approach as the music mogul enters the building, one of them holding paperwork and the other what appears to be a set of handcuffs.
At one point, both agents can be seen placing their arms on Combs’ back.
Combs, who isn’t cuffed during the encounter, complies without a fuss, following the agents through the lobby and into the hotel as Combs’ team appeared confused and stood idle at the hotel entrance.
The former chart-topper was arrested following a criminal investigation which saw his Miami and Los Angeles mansions raided by authorities in March.
According to the unsealed grand jury indictment which surfaced on Tuesday, officers uncovered “various Freak Off supplies, including narcotics and more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant.”
The so-called ‘Freak Offs’ form part of the prosecution’s case against Combs, in which it is alleged he forced female victims into days-long sexual performances as part of his alleged pattern of abuse dating back more than a decade.
In a statement, Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, condemned his client’s arrest.
“We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the US Attorney’s Office,” he said on Monday.
“Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man and proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire, adoring his children and working to uplift the black community.”
Combs could remain in jail for up to a year before his trial begins.
He was reportedly placed on suicide watch shortly after his bail hearing on Thursday.
Sources told People the decision was made for “preventive measures as Combs is in shock and his mental state is unclear.”
Suicide watch is defined as “supervisory precautions taken for suicidal inmates that require frequent observation,” according to the US Department of Justice National Institute of Corrections.
Originally published as Footage of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ public arrest in New York hotel surfaces