Akon Detained in Georgia on Bench Warrant Linked to Suspended License Case

Akon, 52, is seen in a booking photo taken Friday after Chamblee police arrested him on a bench warrant tied to a suspended-license case out of Roswell, Georgia. He was released from the DeKalb County Jail later the same day. (DeKalb County Sheriff's Office)

Akon was briefly taken into custody in Georgia on Friday after police flagged a vehicle registered in his name and discovered he had an outstanding bench warrant tied to a prior suspended-license citation.

According to the Chamblee Police Department, an officer was dispatched just after 11 a.m. to Tint World, an automotive styling shop along Chamblee Dunwoody Road, after license-plate cameras alerted authorities that a wanted vehicle — a white Tesla Cybertruck — had entered the area. When the officer arrived, they located the truck and saw a man standing outside who matched the registered owner’s description.

Police say the man identified himself as Akon, whose legal name is Aliaune Badara Thiam. After confirming the active warrant, officers informed him he was being detained. According to the incident report, Akon complied, remained calm and told officers he was already aware of the warrant. No weapons or contraband were found during a search.

He was transported to the DeKalb County Jail, booked early Friday afternoon and released later the same day.

The bench warrant stems from a Sept. 10 incident in Roswell, when police found Akon’s Cybertruck stranded after its battery died. Officers contacted the singer, ran his information and determined his driver’s license was suspended for failure to appear. The truck was impounded, and Akon was issued a citation.

Police records show he was later arrested on the related bench warrant in November, after being transferred from the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office to Smyrna authorities, before being released again.

It remains unclear when he is due back in court or whether the Cybertruck has since been retrieved from impound. Police have not indicated whether further charges may be forthcoming.

Akon, 52, has not publicly commented on the incident.