Kanye West writer was held up at gunpoint before facing indifference from police officers when trying to report the crime.
Chicago rapper and songwriter Che “Rhymefest” Smith, best known for his work with Kanye West and the founder of the Donda’s House teaching program, took to Twitter yesterday to share details of a robbery and the ensuing treatment he received by Chicago police officers. Following the tweets, Anthony Guglielmi, director of communications for Chicago PD, apologised to Smith.
The incident appears to begin with a robbery on the city’s south side in the early hours of Saturday morning. Smith says he was jumped by a young man while sitting in his parked car. With a gun pointed at him he was made to hand over his wallet, which contained only $3. Smith took to Twitter to deplore the situation and invite the robber to contact him so they can talk.
To the young brother that put the gun to my head this morning & took my wallet. You don't know how you just damaged your community.
— Rhymefest (@RHYMEFEST) August 27, 2016
It's 730am. you just put a gun in my face for $3 in my wallet. I defend you against police brutality, I work on your behalf you robbed me
— Rhymefest (@RHYMEFEST) August 27, 2016
You don't know what you did! And who you did it to. I lived here on the southside because I thought it mattered. I'm reconsidering
— Rhymefest (@RHYMEFEST) August 27, 2016
You were gonna shoot me in the face for a wallet, I had the power to give you a job!
— Rhymefest (@RHYMEFEST) August 27, 2016
When you look in my Wallet & see the name Che Smith on the ID. DM me, yes contact me apologize and talk to me like a brother.
— Rhymefest (@RHYMEFEST) August 27, 2016
Give me faith that it's our desperation & not our hearts thatre dark. The man who robbed me I want to reach out to me If I know him tell him
— Rhymefest (@RHYMEFEST) August 27, 2016
Following the incident, Smith visited his local police station to report the robbery. In a video he shared, he seems to have been faced with indifference from the officers on duty. One woman can be seen to tell him to stop filming while it takes nearly 2 minutes for another officer to allow Smith to place a report after a heated exchange.
After Guglielmi contacted Smith on Twitter to apologise, the rapper invited him to sit down and find a better way “to police our communities.”
You wonder we don't report crimes? The police treated me disgustingly pic.twitter.com/fY9VQrqDpz
— Rhymefest (@RHYMEFEST) August 27, 2016
@RHYMEFEST disappointing to say the least. On behalf of CPD, I apologize for how you were treated. We will be addressing this today.
— Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) August 27, 2016
@AJGuglielmi I would like to bring young people I work with and help you find solutions to help better Police our communities.
— Rhymefest (@RHYMEFEST) August 27, 2016
