Wednesday, January 1, 2025 - Joe Budden, rapper and podcast host, faces a lewdness charge stemming from an incident earlier this month in Edgewater, New Jersey, where he was allegedly caught on a neighbor’s Ring Camera nak3d outside their apartment.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, the charge was filed on
December 4. The Edgewater Police Department confirmed the details in a
statement released on December 30, explaining that officers were called to an
apartment complex at approximately 7:21 AM.
The caller reported being alerted by their Ring Camera and observed
Budden on video outside their home, completely nak3d. The footage allegedly
showed him attempting to enter a code into the resident’s door keypad multiple
times before returning to his apartment in the same building.
The police complaint states that the caller and their two juvenile
daughters witnessed the incident live on their phone.
This isn’t the first time Budden has faced issues with neighbors. He
recently discussed being asked to leave his apartment complex due to recording
his podcast there, and he has previously mentioned on the podcast that he is a
sleepwalker.
Budden’s attorney, Nima Ameri, criticized the Edgewater Police
Department and its Chief, Donald Martin, for issuing a press release about the
incident.
"Mr. Budden is saddened by Police Chief Martin's press release,”
Ameri told TMZ. “Mr. Budden has been waiting weeks for his cross complaints to
be processed, which include substantially more serious charges, including
possible felony charges against the persons behind these charges against him.
The Chief has, in our opinion, sat on those but instead used his time to gain
some free publicity for himself. Chief Martin should seek publicity by doing
notable policing, not inflaming disorderly person allegations."
Ameri further alleged racial bias in the handling of the case. "The
allegations against Mr. Budden are a minor charge, not even resulting in an
arrest. A charge Mr. Budden is looking forward to beating in court on the
merits, not in the press. The Chief's comments are reckless and, in our
opinion, racially motivated. Our research has not shown a single press release
on a disorderly person charge on the police website this year. His choice to
single out Mr. Budden, in our opinion, is self-motivated and based off of Mr.
Budden’s race and celebrity status."
Budden is scheduled to appear in court next month to address the charge.
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