James Harden and his rapper friend Lil Baby have been stopped and searched by police in Paris with the musician subsequently arrested for drug possession.
The 31-year-old NBA star, who plays for the Brooklyn Nets, was in town for Paris fashion week when he was pictured being questioned by officers on Thursday.
Video posted on Twitter showed him being frisked by cops, though a police spokesman later said he had been released without charge.
However, 26-year-old Lil Baby – real name Dominique Jones – was seen being handcuffed and placed in a police car, with police confirming he was arrested.
Legal run-in: James Harden, 31, was seen being stopped by Paris police and frisked during an encounter on Thursday. He was accompanied by his friend Lil Baby, who was handcuffed
Out of town: Lil Baby, 26, speaks with police. He was seen being placed into the back of police van
More questions: The rapper and the other man were reportedly taken in the police van down to the station for questioning
According to TMZ, Jones was caught in possession of marijuana, which is illegal in France.
According to French reports, police had stopped a black Mercedes in which Jones was travelling because officers smelled marijuana.
A search of the vehicle allegedly turned up 20 grams of the drug – about an eight of an ounce – which led to Jones being arrested alongside one other person.
Harden became involved in the altercation when he tried to intervene as he saw officers questioning his friend.
It is thought that Harden was not in the car, but was standing on the street nearby when he saw the vehicle being pulled over.
He then tried to intervene as police questioned his friend, leading to officers frisking him as well.
Language barrier: In a video posted to Twitter, Harden could be heard shouting, ‘You know, It’s OK. I don’t understand’
Drug-related: According to French outlets, the two men were part of a group stopped on a marijuana-related charge
Checking in: Harden was accompanied by several other men and was busy on his phone while the police spoke with others
Not alone: Local French outlets reported that Lil Baby was among a group of three men who were arrested on marijuana-related charges
In a video posted to Twitter, Harden could be heard shouting, ‘You know, It’s OK. I don’t understand,’ though he seemed to be shouting to someone behind the officer searching him.
While speaking to the other person, the plainclothes officer patted down his arms and checked his sleeves.
It’s unclear if a translator was ever provided to clarify what the stop was about.
Harden was dressed casually in a brown hoodie under a brown-and-white jacket, along with matching shorts and black high top sneakers.
Sources close to the shooting guard later told the outlet that he hadn’t done anything illegal and was let go by police after the altercation.
Lil Baby was photographed speaking with other police officers who were in uniform, while another man stood to his side.
The rapper and the other man were then taken in the police van down to the station for questioning.
The Paris Police Department refused to answer questions about the altercation as it was part of an active investigation.
Unclear: However, it wasn’t clear if it was a marijuana vaporizer or if it was used for another substance, such as tobacco
Packed in: The van where Lil Baby and others were held
France has largely resisted steps to legalize or decriminalize marijuana, in contrast with other European nations, and it has among the most restrictive medical marijuana laws in the European Union.
Last year, the French government instituted a new fine system in which people in possession of less than 100 grams of marijuana would simply be fined a lump sum of €200.
Prior to the loosening of restrictions, a marijuana possession charge could come with a fine well over €1,000 and up to a year in jail.
As Lil Baby and his entourage were reportedly found with only 20 grams, it’s unclear why they were taken to the station and not just fined.
