A 90s rapper trying to make a comeback by allegedly posting a social media video brandishing a gun near a LAPD patrol car was released on bond overnight.
Alex Izquierdo, 35, who goes by the moniker "Klever" was arrested Wednesday after surrendering to police. Izquierdo was in a 1990s Chicano rap group called Brownside. He was originally expected to be released on a $50,000 bail Wednesday night before the bail amount was suddenly raised again, family members said.
The rapper’s brother, who goes by the name "Toker," said his brother's bail was raised to $200,000. Jail records show he posted $200,000 bond early Thursday morning.
The rapper was being held at LAPD’s 77th division jail for the threatening video posted to Instagram titled: “F___ the police.”
The rapper’s brother also said Izquierdo did not mean to make a direct threat to the LAPD. He said his brother was using a prop in the video.
The department investigated the video as a threat, but concluded that it was indeed promotion for the comeback of "an early 90s rap group no longer in fashion,” according to a department statement.
Despite the lack of an actual threat, brandishing a gun can be prosecuted as a felony.
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According to the LAPD, the suspect in custody has a prior firearm conviction.
"A felony warrant for his arrest for carrying a firearm in a vehicle with a prior -- accompanied by a search warrant -- was obtained by investigators and was executed by SWAT in the city of Downey,'' the statement said.
In the video, an officer can be seen getting out of the patrol vehicle, as someone in the video says, "F____ the police.''
The president of the main LAPD union criticized both the video and Beck's reaction to it.
"While Chief Beck made a point of alerting officers to the dangers posed by the video early on, upon further investigation, he all but dismissed the violent, anti-police nature of the images,'' said Craig Lally, president of Los Angeles Police Protective League President.
"Analyzing the intentions of the video does not change the fact that a threat on officers' lives was made. All such threats must be taken seriously."
We think Chief Beck's first reaction was right: officer safety must be our first priority, and a threat of this nature, whatever the reason, should not be downplayed.''
The statement went on to decry "the prevalence of the anti-police narrative being communicated by some in our society."
City News Service contributed to this report.
