LA 4SS Arrested

A St. Louis, Missouri rapper was arrested Wednesday on fentanyl and gun charges. Antonio Harris, 25, was indicted June 22, 2022 on three charges: possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession a firearm as a convicted felon.

Harris, who performs as “LA 4SS,” appeared in court Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to the charges. The indictment alleges that Harris possessed the fentanyl and a firearm on Feb. 16, 2022. A detention motion says when police tried to stop a Toyota Corolla on North Broadway in the Baden neighborhood, Harris sped off.

Officers used spike strips, but Harris continued north on Riverview Drive before colliding with the median near the intersection of Riverview and Spring Garden Drive. Harris got out of the car and ran, discarding a bag that contained nearly 400 capsules containing fentanyl and plastic baggies containing just under 6 grams of fentanyl in raw form, the motion says.

Police found a loaded Glock 9mm pistol in the car. Harris has multiple prior felony convictions and is barred from possessing a firearm. The charges against Harris are serious and could result in significant prison time if he is convicted.

The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Martin is prosecuting the case. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The arrest of LA 4SS is a significant development in the fight against fentanyl trafficking in the St. Louis area. Fentanyl is a highly addictive and deadly drug that has been linked to numerous overdoses and deaths in the region. The fact that Harris was allegedly possessing nearly 400 capsules of fentanyl and a loaded firearm suggests that he may have been involved in a large-scale drug trafficking operation.

The use of spike strips to stop Harris’s car was a necessary measure to prevent him from fleeing the scene and potentially harming innocent bystanders. The fact that Harris continued to drive recklessly even after his tires were spiked suggests that he was desperate to escape and may have been willing to put others at risk to avoid capture.

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