Mark Morrison Arrested for Battery in Florida
Mark Morrison, the British singer famed for his 1996 hit “Return of the Mack,” was taken into custody on Saturday evening in Florida. The musician, age 50, was arrested for alleged battery following an incident at a Palm Beach restaurant.
Incident at Le Bar à Vin
According to a police report obtained by TMZ, Morrison reportedly “stormed into” Le Bar à Vin, located in Palm Beach. Witnesses stated he began “yelling and cursing” at the general manager of the establishment.
The altercation reportedly stemmed from Morrison’s dissatisfaction with the planning of an event at Le Bar à Vin that had commenced on Friday. Witnesses claim Morrison then physically pushed the manager, Nicola Lavacca, in the upper torso. Lavacca did not retaliate.
Arrest and Release
The police report indicates that an individual intervened to separate Morrison and Lavacca and requested Morrison to leave the premises. Subsequently, law enforcement arrived and arrested Morrison on a simple battery charge.
Photographs published by TMZ show Morrison in handcuffs outside the restaurant, wearing a black shirt, shorts, and yellow footwear.
Morrison was released on Sunday morning after posting a $1,000 bond.
Legal Proceedings
Court documents obtained by the Palm Beach Daily News reveal that an arraignment has been scheduled for April 15 at the Palm Beach County Courthouse in West Palm Beach.
Representatives for Morrison have been contacted for comment by Dailymail.com.
Mark Morrison’s Career and Past Legal Issues
“Return of the Mack” and Musical Success
Released in 1996, “Return of the Mack” was a number one hit in the UK for Morrison and reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1997. The track is recognized as a defining song of 1990s R&B.
His debut album, also titled “Return of the Mack,” was released the same year and featured singles “Crazy” and “Let’s Get Down.” While successful, these singles did not replicate the immense popularity of “Return of the Mack.”
“Return of the Mack” achieved platinum status in the US with 1.4 million sales and double platinum in the UK with 1.8 million units sold.
In 2023, Billboard ranked “Return of the Mack” at number 318 in their list of the 500 Best Pop Songs of All Time.
Previous Legal Troubles
Morrison has faced numerous legal issues throughout his career:
- 1997: Convicted for attempting to carry a firearm onto an airliner and served three months in jail.
- 1998: Arrested upon returning to the UK after failing to appear in court on offensive weapon charges (later cleared).
- 1998: Jailed for 12 months for employing a lookalike to perform community service related to an affray conviction.
- 1998: Received a six-month driving ban and £1,380 fine for two instances of driving without a license.
- 2002: Accused of kidnapping and theft; a warrant was issued for his arrest after failing to appear in court.
- 2004: Arrested and detained overnight following an altercation at a Leicester nightclub where a medallion was stolen.
Current Life
Morrison currently owns multiple properties in Florida. He established MackLife Records and initiated the “Drop the Knife, Pick up the Mic” campaign aimed at combating youth crime.