Drum-n-bass artist Goldie has threatened to sue London's Scotland Yard on the grounds that his back was injured during an altercation with police two weeks ago.

Reportedly seeking legal advice over the incident, the former graffiti artist and star of the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough told Britain's The Sun tabloid he was rough-handled by police following an incident with a fellow motorist.

"I'd had a row [British slang for scuffle] with another driver earlier and I think he must have called the police," Goldie told the paper. "All I can imagine is that he thought the mobile phone I had in my hand was a gun."

The star claims he was traveling home from a club with his girlfriend when he was stopped by police, who forced him to the ground and held guns on him. "It was outrageous," he said. "I had seven rifles pointing at me and I was pulled out and pinned down on the road. I was cuffed, which hurt my wrists, and one of the policeman put his knee in my back, which I am still having problems with."

Goldie also claimed that he couldn't "work properly" because of the injury to his back. Although Scotland Yard said they can't discuss specific names in cases, they confirmed that an incident similar to the one described happened in a statement. "I can confirm police were called regarding an incident between two male drivers at a quarter past one on the 29th of October," a source for Scotland Yard said. "The caller alleged he was assaulted by the other party and indicated that he was carrying an object that may have been a gun. Police stopped a vehicle and searched it together with the driver and female passenger. No gun was found and both were released."

To date no complaints have been filed regarding the incident against the police.

JOLIE LASH
(November 15, 2000)