‘Locked Up’ (But Far From ‘Dangerous’) – Akon Taken Into Custody During Brief Georgia Jail Stay

Akon, the 52-year-old musician and record producer, was arrested last week in Georgia on a suspended license warrant. The arrest warrant had been previously flagged as “inactive,” but a check of the driver’s license database for the star, whose legal name is Aliaune Badara Thiam, resurfaced the warrant, causing a two-day saga in which Akon was briefly booked into two metro Atlanta jails for the same charge.

On Nov. 6, Akon was arrested on an out-of-county warrant by Roswell police and taken into custody by DeKalb County Sheriff’s deputies. Jail records show that Akon was taken into custody at approximately 9: 34 a.m. on Nov. 6 and was released from the DeKalb County Jail in the afternoon. Around midnight the next day – he was arrested again on the same charge.

On Nov. 7, Chamblee police received a notification for a white 2024 Tesla Cybertruck from Flock’s camera system for the Roswell warrant, according to police. Officers drove to Tint World at 607 Chamblee Dunwoody Road and located Akon outside the vehicle. Officers took photos of Akon, ran his information through their system and confirmed it was him by matching a driver’s license photo. Officers then advised him about the warrant. Akon stayed calm during the stop, told officers he was aware of the warrant and consented to his detainment until Roswell officers confirmed the validity of the warrant. Officers handcuffed Akon and searched him, and found no weapons or contraband. Officers impounded the vehicle.

Officers later transported Akon to the Smyrna City Jail, where Akon was arrested, booked and then released on a failure to appear charge for a suspended license. A representative for Akon told Atlanta Audubon that his license was suspended due to a clerical error. The representative said the original violation had been paid but was not registered and is set to be resolved in court in early December.

The original arrest warrant for Akon was issued on Sept. 10 by Roswell police after officers found his Cybertruck inoperable in a roadway due to a dead battery. Officers spoke with Akon at the scene, then informed him his license was suspended from January 2023 and issued a citation. Police also noticed an illegal vape in the vehicle’s center console and took it from Akon before he was released at the scene.

The arrest comes after the singer’s wife, Tomeka Thiam, filed for divorce two months ago. Tomeka Thiam filed for divorce in New Jersey state court on Sept. 11, ending their 28-year marriage, which began in 1995. The filing said both parties could not get along and could not reconcile their differences. The couple has a 17-year-old daughter together and Tomeka Thiam is requesting joint legal custody and physical custody for herself, as well as spousal support.

Musically, Akon is in the midst of a tour in India. He played at Yashraj Titans in Delhi on Nov. 6 and Nov. 7 and has shows planned for Bengaluru on Nov. 8 and Mumbai on Nov. 9. Following his performances in India, Akon will hit Las Vegas on Jan. 3, 2026.

The “Locked Up” rapper, who also has well-known songs such as “Smack That” and “Lonely,” has had legal issues in the past. In 1998, he was arrested in Minnesota on a car theft charge but the charges were later dropped. In 2008, he pleaded guilty to harassment after an onstage confrontation. In comparison, this arrest over a paperwork error seems to have been a much quieter affair, sending the artist who once sang about the experience, “back into a cell of shame again” only to be back on the streets once more.