Aiken County Sherrif's Office photo of James Brown. Special

Brown arrested, charged with domestic abuse

Soul singer James Brown was arrested at his Beech Island home Wednesday on charges of beating his wife, Aiken County sheriff's officials said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Have a thought? Go to the Forums or Chat.

Subscribe  E-mail this story  Write a letter to the Editor  Printer-friendly version  Get news on your PDA  Get e-mail headlines

James Brown and wife Tomi Rae attend his turkey giveaway in Nov. 2002 at Dyess Park in Augusta. File/Staff

Mr. Brown, 70, who received a full pardon last year from the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services for 1988 weapons and assault convictions, spent Wednesday night at the Aiken County Detention Center, charged with a single count of misdemeanor criminal domestic violence.

He is to appear this morning before a magistrate judge at the jail, where it is expected bond will be set.

Mr. Brown was honored late last year in separate events in Augusta and Washington for his contributions to the performing arts. He received the prestigious Kennedy Center Honor on Dec. 7, and the May unveiling of a bronze statue of his likeness was announced during a November event at the Augusta Common.

Aiken County Sheriff Mike Hunt said his office received a 911 call from Mr. Brown's wife, 33-year-old Tomi Rae Brown, at 10:48 a.m. Wednesday.

Two deputies who went to the singer's home in the 400 block of Douglas Drive opened the front door when they couldn't get an answer, the sheriff said.

"They could tell they were involved in an argument," Sheriff Hunt said.

Mrs. Brown told deputies that Mr. Brown had pushed her to the floor during an argument, Sheriff Hunt said. Mrs. Brown had scratches and bruises on her right arm and hip and was taken by ambulance to Medical College of Georgia. Hospital officials would not release information on Mrs. Brown's condition Wednesday, citing patient privacy laws.

The sheriff said Mr. Brown was cooperative. He would not say what, if any, statements Mr. Brown made to deputies. "They did not have any trouble from Mr. Brown," Sheriff Hunt said.

Lt. Michael Frank, a spokesman for the Aiken County Sheriff's Office, said the nature of the couple's argument "was personal and not something we will disclose."

Mr. Brown faces a Feb. 26 court date in Beech Island summary court on the misdemeanor charge, Lt. Frank said.

Mr. Brown's attorney, Augusta lawyer Albert "Buddy" Dallas, did not return several messages left with his office. Calls to the offices of James Brown Enterprises in Augusta went unanswered.

--From the Thursday, January 29, 2004 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle