The former cape man for James Brown is behind bars on a drug charge.
Daniel Brown Ray, 74, of Augusta, was charged Friday with possession of cocaine. He remained in the Richmond County jail on Monday on a $4,600 bond, according to jail personnel.
Mr. Ray, known to millions as the voice behind Mr. Brown's singular introductions and the man who would offer Mr. Brown a cape, was arrested after he drove a 1983 Lincoln Town Car in front of a known drug house in the 2600 block of Mill Street about 5:40 p.m. Friday and conducted a transaction with a man who approached the vehicle, according to a Richmond County Sheriff's Office report.
An investigator who was conducting surveillance radioed a deputy to stop Mr. Ray's vehicle. Mr. Ray agreed to a search, and police say they found a 0.2-gram piece of crack cocaine in his left suit vest pocket, according to the report.
After Mr. Brown's death in December 2006, Mr. Ray was without the gig that had sustained him for nearly 50 years and fell into financial difficulty. His house was foreclosed on and sold Dec. 4, 2007, because he fell eight months behind in his payments, he told The Augusta Chronicle in an interview. He owed $18,000 on the house and $80,000 in federal and state tax liens.
In February 2008, alumni of James Brown's famously funky touring acts reunited to perform a benefit concert for Mr. Ray.
Reach Preston Sparks at (706) 828-0851 or preston.sparks@augustachronicle.com.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
This is a bit much coverage for one little rock IMO.
Where's Rev. Hipocrit Al when you need him? Oh, I forgot he was handing out free turkeys. Wonder how many he bought?
No turkey for Ray.
How sad...in the twlight of life to be involved with the corrupt legal system. He had no money before this charge, what do U think the so-called legal system will demand for his freedom? U guessed it, money. Great country, eh?
At least he wasn't an unarmed white man shot to death in the street. And by the way justus4, boats leave Savannah harbor every day. If this country is so bad, get on one.
This man is OLD he should be sitting down somewhere. I still can't understand why people past a certain age still do drugs, drink heavily, etc you are OLD rest your nerves.
Justus what freebee should the govt. give Mr. Ray? I know, free jail time!
Prosecuting drug offenses is a terrible waste of the taxpayers money. They will continue to do drugs when they get out until they decide to quit. This is all a rackett designed to extort money from offenders families to pay lawyers, probation officers, couselors, etc. If a drug user supports his family, LEAVE HIM/HER ALONE. If a drug user is not driving under the influence, LEAVE HIM/HER ALONE. If a drug user is not stealing, LEAVE HIM/HER ALONE. What business is it of anyone else what they do with their body? Cancel their insurance if they are a risk. Hospitals should be legally able to refuse them treatment if they can't pay. Same for those on social security. No medicare or medicade. Putting people in jail for victimless crimes is a waste of taxpayers money. Land of the free??? Where?? Show me this place "Land of the Free". It doesn't exist. Prohibition has already been tried...twice. It was and still is a failure. In these tight economic times, we the citizens, cannot afford to incarcerate people for victimless crimes. As long as they buy their poison and don't steal to do it, IT IS THEIR BUSINESS. Police hate to give up power. It gives them employment. It is all about money.
Why the insistence to turn this into a story about something else (the "system", Rev. Al, etc.)? It's nothing more than a sad story about a 74 year old cocaine user. It's tragic....
This man is 74 and doesn't have a record. Let him go. Put him in jail and he will bankrupt the county getting free medical care.
well said John Taurus.........................
He had money to buy crack.....
It is sad, but Mr. Ray had money to buy the crack. I'll agree, putting him in jail seems useless but this man broke the law. John you state, if a drug user supports his family, isn't driving under the influence and is not stealing from someone, leave them alone. Don't you realize that eventually drugs will take you from your family, eventually you will be driving under the influence, and drug addition is costly and more than likely when your money runs out you will resort to stealing to pay for your habit. Maybe if Mr. Ray had used some of that crack money he could have saved his house....I'm sure he's not a new user and this has been years of abuse. Again, this is just a sad situation but when do we stop prosecuting offenders just because they are old.
I'm guessing the AWM is making such a big story out of this unfortunate mistake by someone associated with Mr Brown to discredit the turkey give away. Mr Ray has been using for over 40 years and to wait until now, all these 40 years, to bust him is most likely a set up. At 74 this poor man should be forgiven. We should also demand an investigation into th $80,000.00 in tax liens. Was this man targeted by our corrupt government at 74??? Free country??? What a joke. Any country with rules & laws that we are obligated to follow or suffer consequences is certainly not free. It's enough to have us all crying in the rain.....
InChristLove, you are right on target! Eventually drug abusers do committ other crimes... It was a crime when Daniel Ray did not pay his home mortgage and tax's.. It was a crime when James Brown did not pay his tax's.. It was a crime when old JB led law enforcement on a PCP induced high speed auto chase... Call it what it is, no matter what...God ordains leaders, just like true ministers...Ministers provide spiritual leadership to help us not committ transgressions against Gods laws..Law enforcement and government leaders are here to help keep civil order and peace...and to punish transgressors of the law...If a man has not learned how to live a normal life by the time he reachs Rays age, maybe they need to be incarcerated to keep them from hurting themself or others...No matter the age young or old, break the law of the land be prepared to pay the price!! Break Gods law be prepared to pay the ultimate price..That price has not changed, it is still death... Romans 6:23
Once again folks, you cannot legislate morality. It is a waste of taxpayers money. "Eventually" he will commit a crime you say. You are profiling. We could use the same argument to lock up blacks since they commit 80% of all violent crime. What about the 20% that obey the law??? Lock them up, too??
What do you mean justus, he had no money? He bought his drugs. So typical, no money for food and diapers but pleanty of drug and fingernail money.
He looks like a long time user/abuser of drugs. I wonder how many houses he could have paid for with the money he squandered buying dope?
The caped one had fancy finger nails????
This isn't about morality, this is about a man who broke the law. He was observe making a deal and then drove off, how is this a setup. The article said an officer was conducting a survelliance at the location. Evidently this was a known drug location and Mr. Ray just happend to make a stop and got caught. What's profiling in this. I said concerning drug abusers.. "more than likely when your money runs out you will resort to stealing to pay for your habit." This isn't profiling, this is just fact. Addicts will resort to just about anything to get their next fix, stealing, prostitution, even selling their own kids. If Mr. Ray can come up with the bond money then he'll be released. Why should this be any different than any other person that breaks the law. He has a vehicle, maybe he can put that up for collateral.
Slightly off topic, but referring to the phrase "known drug house" in the article: If it's a known drug house, what would it take to take it down? How long has it been "known" to be a known drug house? I was wondering the same thing about the recent bust at another "known" drug house on Shelby near Hummingbird? How many "known" drug houses are there in the city and what do we have to do to shut them down???
JohnTarus, Maybe you have had the luxury to live in a sheltered world or maybe an exclusive neighborhood...As a recovered drug abuser, I can speak from experience, those I grew up with who are still alive and still use drugs, steal, cheat, and do whatever they can to support their habits...It has nothing to do with skin color nor morality..I thank God that he directs my choices and saved me from a life of hell and sure death! Some of my friends don't have the luxury to post comments on-line, they are dead or in no shape to use a computer...Those I know, who are alive ,if they did have a computer it would eventually be sold to buy drugs, and they probably stole it in the first place!!
Chronic Nuisance Property Ordinance will put the drug houses out of business. http://www.practitionerresources.org/cache/documents/19720.pdf
How sad...in the twilight of life to be a homeless DRUG ADDICT. Justus, I can only assume you're posting his bail and letting him stay with you until the trial?
Also sad the AC thinks this is "news."
I am really sorry for Mr. Ray. I am sure that he was secure and comfortable in his friendship with James for so many years and probably came to need him for guidance and support. Since the death of JB he probably has no one to provide a real spark for his life. But in conclusion, I will always remember him and his part of the JB experience and really hope he finds some way to be happy.
This is just sad...GL with rehab and getting your life back on track Mr. Ray
I hope there is some young aspiring author out there who sees an opportunity here. Sit down with Mr. Ray. He has one heck of a story to tell. Imagine what he has seen. Tell his story.
Ok. The question is...why does the city / county allow a KNOWN drug house to continue in operation? Also, was the person who sold the rock arrested?
j4: It isn't the legal system that is corrupt, but Mr Ray. Was he paid under the table, therefore failing to pay for his Social Security and Medicare benefits? He could have applied for Medicaid and other public assistance. Since he did neither of these things, but chose to use crack cocaine, then he must pay the consequences. And if he did receive Social Security/Medicare benefits, he chose to spend in on illicit drugs. It is HIS fault, not the legal system. And by the way, we don't see you offering to bail Mr Ray out or providing him a room in your home.