Rapper LL Cool J nabs intruder at Los Angeles home

  • Associated Press
  • Wednesday, August 22, 2012 12:48pm
  • Life

LOS ANGELES — LL Cool J plays a special agent on TV’s “NCIS: Los Angeles,” and now he’s caught an actual bad guy.

The rapper, 44, struggled with and subdued a suspected burglar early Wednesday morning at his home in the Studio City area, police said. He was not hurt.

Police got a 911 call shortly before 1 a.m. from someone who said her father had spotted an intruder in their home and was holding him downstairs.

“There was a prowler at his residence whom he confronted in the kitchen. … There was a physical confrontation briefly between the two of them,” LAPD spokesman Richard French said.

A 58-year-old man was taken to the hospital and was expected to be arrested on suspicion of burglary. His identity wasn’t released but there was no indication that he knew LL Cool J or had a personal vendetta, French said.

“He appeared to be a homeless person,” French said.

Early police information said the man received minor bruises. However, the Los Angeles Times cited police sources it did not identify as saying the suspect received a broken nose and jaw in a “knock-down, drag-out” fight.

French said he had no details about the man’s injuries or how he may have gotten into the home, a walled and gated mansion in a wealthy hillside section of the San Fernando Valley that’s not far from major studios.

“LL Cool J, and his family, are safe and thank everyone for their thoughts and concern,” said a statement released by his publicist, Rhett Usry. “As a father, husband and citizen, he is committed to keeping his family safe and is cooperating with authorities on this private matter.”

LL Cool J, whose real name is James Todd Smith, has had such hits such as “Mama Said Knock You Out” and “I’m Bad.”

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