By Tai Saint Louis
Miami Rapper Pitbull wants the world to be clear on one fact regarding his on-going trial in his hometown: his in court by choice and not by obligation.
The bi-lingual superstar, who recently released his first single "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho), as a Polo Grounds Music recording artist, went on trial in Miami-Dade County Wednesday (July 8) to face DUI charges stemming from a 2007 arrest.
Following several reports in the media about the trial, Pitbull, born Armando Perez, issued a statement through via his attorneys.
“The reports that are circulating in the media regarding my DUI trial are inaccurate and incomplete,” Pitbull told AllHipHop.com. "I’ve chosen to take this case to trial to make sure justice is served.”
The rapper and his legal team maintain that he was “erroneously” arrested on December 21, 2007, when he was clocked driving at 93 mph on the Palmetto Expressway in Miami.
According to reports released to the press after the arrest, Pitbull was visibly intoxicated, demonstrating slurred, rapid speech after initially refusing to step out of his vehicle once stopped.
The police report states that once Pitbull stepped out of the car, officers detected the smell of alcohol on the rapper’s breath, despite his apparent attempt to cover the smell with chewing gum.
Pitbull eventually agreed to a series of field sobriety tests, which he reportedly failed.
His blood alcohol level was not released to the public.
“Mr. Perez is currently in trial defending himself against the untrue and greatly overblown allegations,” added his attorney Joseph Vredevelt. “We intend to finish this trial in the next day and with a favorable result.”
If Vredevelt’s prediction is accurate, a verdict should be handed down later today (July 9).