Pubdate: Wed, 28 Jul 2004 Source: New York Daily News (NY) Copyright: 2004 Daily News, L.P. Contact: http://www.nydailynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/295 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/racial.htm (Racial Issues) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?140 (Rockefeller Drug Laws) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/russell+simmons KIMORA ARRESTED AS HUBBY POLITICKS Kimora Lee Simmons Rap mogul Russell Simmons was having a great time at the Democratic National Convention yesterday - until we called to ask him about the arrest of his wife, Kimora Lee Simmons, on reckless-driving and drug charges. Kimora, the fashion powerhouse whose gorgeous nude form can be seen on a Times Square billboard for her Baby Phat line, was handcuffed and booked Sunday night by cops in Saddle River, N.J., where the couple lives. According to Saddle River Police Lt. Robert Breese, she was charged with eluding a police officer, possessing marijuana (under 50 grams), careless driving, operating a vehicle while possessing a controlled substance, tail-gating and having a taillight out. The 29-year-old trendsetter, who was fingerprinted and posed for a mug shot, "made no attempt to stop" when officers demanded she pull over, Breese said. "They arrived in front of her residence, where she was finally confronted." Kimora's attorney, Stacey Richman, said: "We deny any wrongdoing whatsoever" and called the incident "another example of a prominent member of the hip-hop community being made an example of." A friend of the couple claimed cops conducted an illegal search and insisted that the pot in question was in a bag that belonged to a passenger in the car. The source said Kimora didn't stop immediately "because she was on a road with no shoulder. She drove till she found a place where she could pull over." Russell Simmons said, "My wife is an excellent driver, and she's not guilty of any crime. You don't have to grab my wife and put handcuffs on her. Her wrists are all bruised up." The arrest hits close to home for Russell, 46, who has campaigned against racial profiling and lobbied for repeal of the Rockefeller-era drug laws in New York, which severely penalize possession of even small amounts of marijuana. The Def Jam founder, whose fortune has been estimated at over $1 billion, said: "I may be the biggest taxpayer in Bergen County, but I'm not looking for anything special. I just want to be treated fairly." Lt. Breese said, "We've never had any complaints about racial profiling against these officers." - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin