Rhymefest Robbed at Gunpoint, Then Spurned by Chicago Police

CHICAGO, IL — A songwriter with a Grammy and a Golden Globe to his credit was robbed at gunpoint Saturday in Chicago, and he couldn't get the police to take his report.

Not only could Che "Rhymefest" Smith not get police to hear him out, the rapper says he was treated "disgustingly" and tossed out of the station. He claims the officer who was supposed to be taking his information was eating and "playing Candy Crush" on her cell phone.

After falling victim to a street crime in the Bronzeville community on the South Side and walking away with his life, Smith was in a forgiving mood. He posted a few comments to Twitter offering forgiveness and asking the thief to reach out.

An armed man in a mask got into his car at 7:30 a.m. at 43rd Street and Cottage Grove, demanded his wallet and ran off after Smith complied.

"When you look in my wallet (and) see the name Che Smith on the ID. DM me, yes contact me apologize and talk to me like a brother," he wrote. "Give me faith that it's our desperation (and) not our hearts (that are) dark."

He was clearly pained by the episode.

Then he went to police. And everything changed.

Police acted like they didn't believe him, then told him to get out of the station. Smith began recording the exchange on his cell phone.

“I went from having a guy holding a gun to my head, telling me today is the day I’m going to die, to being treated like a criminal when I tried to make a report,” Smith told the Chicago Sun-Times.

Smith has worked with Kanye West, John Legend and Common. He co-wrote the song "Glory" for the movie "Selma" and shared in a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for best original song.

Smith went to the station in Grand Crossing to report the crime because it's the closest one to where he lives in Chatham.

Around 2 p.m., Chicago Police offered an apology via Twitter.

Chicago Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi told the Chicago Tribune that Superintendent Eddie Johnson was aware of the matter and steps were taken to address the problem.

"We are disappointed with what we've seen and how Mr. Smith was treated, and the chief of patrol called him personally to apologize on behalf of the department," he said.

photo by Mike Barry via Wikimedia Commons