R&B Star Chris Brown’s Arrest Warrant Stuck Somewhere Between Cops, Prosecutors

Posted by Jose Lambiet , March 1, 2012 Print

The lack of action on the alleged robbery of a cell phone by R&B star Chris Brown Feb. 19 in Miami Beach has cops and prosecutors pointing the finger at one another.

Privately, the Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s office and Miami Beach Police are claiming that the fact that Brown is not in custody is the other’s fault.

Both claim that the other is afraid of Brown’s fame.

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Bottom line: Cops have been waiting for an arrest warrant for nearly a week – even though five witnesses said they saw Brown take the iPhone of a fan outside the Cameo nightclub.

“Why didn’t the police grow a pair and arrest him when the complaint was drawn,” a high-ranking State Attorney staffer said Wednesday. “That’s how you do it.”

Boys in blue? Something to say?

“We knew Chris Brown was about to leave town so we went to the State Attorney’s office and asked for a warrant,” a police source said. “They didn’t want to give us one because they claim there was a lot of work left.”

On the record, an official at the State Attorney won’t acknowledge tensions. Spokesman Ed Griffith said the fact that the MBPD asked for an arrest warrant kicked the case into slow gear.

“Police have the power to make an arrest at the scene when they have probable cause,” Griffith said. “But once they come to us, it brings a whole different approach. We’re re-interviewing every witness. It’s not because Chris Brown’s famous. It’s about handling every case equitably.”

Prosecutors even asked for security camera footage of Brown at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach and some of his friends at the Mandarin Oriental downtown Miami.

MBPD’s interim Chief Ray Martinez didn’t respond to requests for comment.

Brown got ticked off that night when he saw fans taking photos of him and two groupies. Brown’s friends told police he didn’t want ex-galpal Rihanna, with whom he’s trying to reconcile, to see the photos.

This story appeared this morning in my column in the Miami Herald

For more:

– Chris Brown in robbery rap

– Chris Brown robbery: Rihanna made him do it!

– Source: Chris Brown will be charged with robbery

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