On the evening of May 17, James William Ross IV, most famously known as ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ season two winner Tyra Sanchez, was arrested for resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer in Starke, Florida.
According to the arrest report, an officer was dispatched for a minor vehicle accident. When the officer approached Ross for more information, Ross jumped out of the car, screamed, and cursed at the officer. She refused to be detained and said she was going to shoot the officer. Since the officer didn’t perform a pat down, the officer attempted to arrest Ross but was unsuccessful because she reached into the car window instead. The officer bear hugged Ross as well as tasered her, Ross even pulled away and the officer tasered her again. The taser had no effect on her and Ross proceeded to take out the probes and ran but was quickly caught.
Ross claimed she needed medical attention and an ambulance arrived at the scene to send her to a hospital in Starke, FL. She was then arrested and transported to Bradford County Jail after being released from the hospital.
She was charged with two offenses on May 18, according to Bradford County, Florida court documents. Ross sumbitted an application for criminal indigent status on May 19 and was presented two general surety appearances bonds of $5,000 for both first degree misdemeanors.
On May 24, Ross filed for a Notice of Discovery and pleaded not guilty to both charges.
Unfortunately, this isn’t Ross’ first arrest. Ross had quit drag just in 2019 and in 2020, she was arrested for spray painting “DON’T MOVE HERE EVER” on the side of an apartment building in Atlanta, Georgia.
Her second arrest took place only about nine months after announcing her drag comeback as “King Tyra” in September of 2022.
Footnote: James William Ross IV uses he/him/his pronouns according to his Twitter posts.