Snoop Arrested in Airport Brawl

04/27/2006 9:00 AM, E! Online


Looks like Snoop Dogg could be headed for the pound.

The rapper and five members of his 30-strong entourage were arrested on suspicion of "violent disorder and affray" (the British even make criminal charges sound cool) at London's Heathrow Airport Tuesday night after getting into a brawl with police and airport staff, injuring seven officers in the process.

The fracas broke out when the 34-year-old "Beautiful" singer and his entourage were denied entry into British Airways' first class lounge, as only three of the group reportedly had first class tickets, and were asked to remain in the airline's business class lounge instead.

Members of the rapper's posse allegedly refused to stay in the lounge, and moved the party over to the terminal's duty-free shop where they reportedly started hurling bottles of whiskey around the store and arguing with shop employees.

Police were called to the scene after receiving reports of a disturbance and told the rapper, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, and his party that they would not be allowed to board their plane to Johannesburg, where he was due to give a concert Thursday night.

Needless to say, the traveling party was less than pleased at the news.

"It was absolute chaos--there was broken glass everywhere and it looked like it was on the brink of turning really nasty," the Daily Mirror cites a witness as saying.

The London Times reported that one of Snoop's bodyguards had "gone berserk" at being denied entry to the flight and attacked a group of police officers. Seven of the uniformed men received minor injuries, including cuts and bruises, while one also suffered a fractured hand.

A spokesman for Scotland Yard confirmed the incident: "Police were called at 6 p.m. last night to reports of a disturbance involving 30 people in a business lounge at Terminal 1. The party was told that they would not be permitted to board their flight and officers then attempted to direct the group to baggage claim.

"A number of the group became abusive and pushed officers."

According to British press reports of the incident, that's quite the understatement.

As a result, six thirtysomething males, including Snoop, were arrested on the charges of violent disorder and affray. While the men's names were not revealed, a Scotland Yard spokesman confirmed they were all U.S. citizens. The group was taken to a West London police station where they spent the night in custody.

As for British Airways, they released a statement regarding the bust-up to the Mirror: "There was an incident involving a group of passengers at our lounge where some passengers were rude and abusive to our staff and that's something we do not tolerate."

Snoop was still undergoing questioning as of this morning, but should charges officially be brought against him, he would likely be released and then asked to return.

"If he is charged, they may ask him to report back, but it's really up to the police to decide what to do if they charge him," a spokeswoman for the department said.

The rapper was due in Johannesburg to headline People's Celebration, a music event series kicking off tonight in the South African city.