DETROIT — R&B artist Trey Songz was charged Thursday with felony assault on a police officer after refusing to leave the stage, becoming "irate" and causing a head injury to a policeman as his performance ended Wednesday night at Joe Louis Arena in downtown Detroit, authorities said.
He was charged under his real name, Tremaine Neverson, 32, of Disputanta, Va., and arraigned Thursday, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office.
Neverson hit an officer with his fist, causing a concussion, after the officer went to arrest him, according to the prosecutor's office. Detroit police officer Dan Donakowski said the officer, a sergeant, was taken to a local hospital, where he treated and was released.
The incident happened about 11:30 p.m. during The Big Show at the Joe, which he headlined with Chris Brown and others.
"He was told his set was over, that he would have to get off the stage," said Donakowski. "At which time, he became irate and started throwing objects (from) the stage; speakers, microphones, anything he could get his hands on."
Police approached the stage and "tried to calm" the artist.
The artist's verified Twitter account retweeted a video showing the performer jump into the audience at the end of the set before returning to the stage.
Black Entertainment Television reported Monday on a Snapchat video Trey Songz released about getting kicked out of the MGM National Harbor Hotel and Casino near Washington, D.C., earlier this month. He says in the video that he and his crew were kicked out of the casino, but he doesn't say why, BET reports.
"Hey this is Trey Songz in D.C. with a special message for the (expletive) police. (Expletive) y'all. (Expletive) the police. (Expletive) the MGM. (Expletive) all y'all," he said in the video.
Trey Songz, a contemporary R&B singer, songwriter and producer debuted in 2005 and had five albums that reached the Top 20 of the Billboard 200 chart in the first 10 years of his career, according to Billboard. He's been nominated for multiple Grammy awards. And he's also played a prominent acting role in the films "Texas Chainsaw 3D" and "Baggage Claim," among others, according to the Internet Movie Database.
In the latest Instagram post (which includes language some may find objectionable) Wednesday before his arrest, Trey Songz posted a photo of himself in front of a mirror with the message, "You become your own reputation unfairly or not..."
His publicists didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.
Initially arrested on suspicion of resisting and obstructing officers and malicious destruction of property, Neverson was charged by the prosecutor with the more-serious felony of assault on a police officer, as well as aggravated assault. Assault on a police officer causing injury is punishable by up to four years in prison and a fine up to $5,000, and the misdemeanor charge of aggravated assault is punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine up to $1,000, according to the prosecutor's office.
Neverson's bond was set at $25,000, or 10%, and his next court appearance is Jan. 5.
