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Chance the Rapper‘s brother, Taylor Bennett, was arrested and charged for allegedly beating a drunken man at a college party last month.
Bennett, whose real name is Michael Taylor Bennett, was at a party with his friend (and purported manager) Jake Kalmin on Sept. 28 when the inebriated man stepped on his foot.
According to Assistant State’s Attorney Erin Atonietti, Bennett, 18, proceeded to allegedly pummel the victim with vicious kicks and punches. Kalmin, who is a 21-year-old Columbia College student, allegedly jumped into the fracas as well, said prosecutors.
Apparently, the assault was caught on cellphone video and friends of the victim were able to identify Bennett and his accomplice.
Bennett surrendered to Chicago police last Thursday (Oct. 16) and was charged with aggravated battery [and] causing great bodily harm.
According to DNAinfo (Chicago), the 19-year-old victim was treated for a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain. He also needed staples to close the wound on the top of his head. Currently, the man suffers from impeded speech and headaches from the assault, said prosecutors.
Bennett, who is aspiring rapper himself and was recently profiled in XXL Magazine, has no prior criminal record. Both he and Kalmin are being held in jail on $75,000 bond.
Bennett’s family and attorney, Jeff Fagen, didn’t want to talk to the media after Friday’s hearing. However, Fagen disputes the prosecutors’ account of what happened on that tragic night.
On a side note, Bennett’s father, Ken Bennett, is a former aide to President Barack Obama and currently employed as the director of public engagement for Mayor Rahm Emanuel. The mayor’s office declined to comment on the matter.
