A Cuban reggaeton star has been arrested on multiple weapons charges after being caught on video pointing his gun at another driver from his McLaren on a Miami highway.
Ovi, whose real name is Ovidio Crespo-Retureta, was arrested during a traffic stop Tuesday in Doral, a day after the incident occurred near the Florida Turnpike.
A Florida Highway Patrol vehicle’s dashcam showed officers approaching Ovi’s Lamborghini Urus and pointing their guns at him. They dragged him out of the vehicle and threw him to the ground.
The 27-year-old was charged Wednesday with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, improper exhibition of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance.
The Cuban reggaeton singer is being held on weapons charges following his arrest on Tuesday, a day after he was seen on video pointing his gun at a driver on a Miami highway. He appeared in court on Wednesday and was given a $6,500 bond, but U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) filed a 48-hour immigration detainer.
Cuban reggaeton singer Ovi, whose real name is Ovidio Crespo-Retureta, was filmed pointing a gun at a driver in Miami on Monday and was arrested Tuesday during a traffic stop.
He appeared before a court judge on Wednesday and his bail was set at $6,500 on Wednesday, but U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued an immigration hold, which requires a defendant to be detained for 48 hours until the agency can take custody of the defendant.
DailyMail.com has contacted ICE for comment.
Florida Highway Patrol said Ovi was driving his McLaren in West Miami-Dade on Monday afternoon when he nearly collided with Giuseppe Benigni while changing lanes.
A video filmed by Benigni showed Ovi allegedly pointing his gun toward the driver’s window.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the singer Ovi pulled out a gun and threatened me here in Miami,” Benigni said in the Instagram post. “I’m driving and I see a car crossing in front of me, a McLaren. I honk my horn because he almost hit me and when I honk, he stops and pulls out a gun.”
Miami model Giuseppe Benigni (pictured) was driving in Miami on Monday when he was nearly hit by Cuban singer Ovi, who brandished a gun from his vehicle. Benigni said he feared for his life and thought Ovi was going to open fire.
Police footage shows Ovi being escorted away by officers in Miami after police pulled him over on Tuesday, a day after he was seen on video pointing a gun at a driver. He was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, improper exhibition of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance.
Ovi appeared in court on Wednesday and was held on $6,500 bail on Wednesday. He remains in custody after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued an immigration detainer, which requires the defendant to be held for 48 hours until the agency can take him into custody.
Benigni, a model, feared Ovi would shoot him and posted a clip of the disturbing incident on his Instagram account.
“How is it possible that these people who call themselves artists and singers commit crimes and yet threaten you and take their guns from you?” he asked. “What would have happened if they had shot him, if they had actually shot me?”
“I don’t understand people who become artists and then want to be criminals, want to be criminals who threaten people in the street.”
Ovi was carrying a handgun in his waistband when police stopped the Lamborghini Urus he was driving, according to the police report. Officers recovered a backpack inside the vehicle containing two Percocet pills.
Police found a Taser on the floor of the SUV and a male passenger also had one in his waistband.
The gun incident is not Ovi’s first run-in with the law.
He was arrested in March 2022 after allegedly assaulting his then-girlfriend while she was carrying their newborn son.
He was also arrested in December 2021 after a fight with reggaeton singer Manny La Figura outside a jewelry store.
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