Nelly will not face charges following drug possession arrest at St. Louis casino

After his arrest for drug possession at a St. Louis casino, Nelly will not face charges.

The The ‘Ride Wit Me’ rapper was arrested in August at Hollywood Casino St. Louis on a controlled substance charge after police allegedly found him with four ecstasy pills, according to an online arrest report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Months after the incident, the St. Louis County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed this USA TODAY that the charges would be dropped. “We do not believe the facts in this case warrant the filing of charges,” the office said in a statement.

Nelly’s attorney, Scott Rosenblum, argued that the rapper was “targeted by an overzealous, excessive officer” after winning several jackpots at the casino. Rosenblum claimed that, rather than simply handling Nelly’s winnings, the officer insisted on a background check, citing a supposed requirement for players to win a certain amount – a rule that Rosenblum said was incorrect.

After a warrant check, Rosenblum said, the officer searched Nelly “without probable cause,” handcuffed him and “paraded him through the casino” in front of other patrons.

The arrest took place shortly after birth of Nelly’s first child with Ashanti. The couple secretly married earlier this year and Ashanti, 44, shared with Entertainment Tonight in August that their son, Kareem Kenkaide Haynes, was born on July 18, a little ahead of schedule. Kenkaide is the name of Ashanti’s father, a choice she says was made with “a lot of pride.”

This news brings welcome relief to Nelly, 50, born Cornell Iral Haynes Jr.