UPDATED: Darius Rucker Arrested on Possession Charges

photo: Jim Wright

This story has been updated.

Hootie & the Blowfish frontman and current country music star Darius Rucker turned himself into authorities on Thursday, February 1st in Williamson County, Tennessee, south and west of Nashville. According to the police report, the arrest was for two counts of simple possession/casual exchange and one count of a violation of Tennessee’s vehicle registration law that occurred back in February of 2023.

The 57-year-old turned himself in at around 12:15 pm Central time and booked into the Williamson County Jail. By 1:51 pm, Rucker was released from custody on a $10,5000 bond. All the charges against Rucker are misdemeanors.

UPDATE (2/2/24 2:00 PM CST): According to newly obtained information, Darius Rucker’s arrest on Thursday, February 1st was not due to a current traffic stop or interaction. Rucker turned himself into authorities after a warrant had been issued for his arrest stemming from a traffic stop on February 19th, 2023—nearly a year ago.

At the time, Rucker was pulled over after police noticed that Rucker’s vehicle registration was expired. During the stop, police noticed the smell of marijuana, and asked Rucker if he was smoking. Rucker replied “no,” but that he’d smoked the previous day.

Citing probable cause, the officers then began to search Rucker and his vehicle. Before the search began, Rucker turned over a small blunt that was in his pocket. A search of the vehicle then turned up a THC pen and 14 unmarked pills. The pills turned out to be Psilocin, which is a Schedule I controlled substance that contains psilocybin, the active ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms.

According to police, Rucker then was then released from the scene without being arrested, pending investigation of the unmarked pills. An arrest warrant was issued for Rucker in December, resulting in Rucker turning himself in on February 1st.

Darius Rucker’s attorney told Country Now, “Darius Rucker is fully cooperating with authorities related to misdemeanor charges.”

Originally from Charleston, South Carolina, Darius Rucker became a national personality for fronting the rock band Hootie and the Blowfish. In 2008, he signed to Capitol Records Nashville and commenced a country music career, achieving a #1 hit with his first single “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It.”

Later in 2008, Rucker made his Grand Ole Opry debut, and became a Grand Ole Opry member in 2012. He was scheduled to perform on the Opry Friday evening (2-2), but the appearance has since been canceled. Rucker also won the Country Music Association’s New Artist of the Year Award in 2009, and has since charted six #1 singles, and four #1 albums.

Darius Rucker is not the only mainstream country artist to be arrested recently. Chris Young was arrested on January and charged for assaulting an officer. The charges were eventually dropped after video evidence emerged disputing the characterizations of the officers, underscoring the importance of waiting until all the facts come out before passing judgement upon arrests.

More information when it becomes available.

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