New Details on Kid Cudi Break-In, Car Fire Emerge at Diddy Trial
May 28, 2025
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A Los Angeles Police Department officer testified Wednesday that he saw a Cadillac Escalade belonging to Sean “Diddy” Combs’ production company at Kid Cudi’s house.
Chris Ignacio, a 16-year veteran of the LAPD, took the stand in Combs’ ongoing sex trafficking trial in Manhattan. In 2011, he responded to a call about a possible break-in at the home of Scott Mescudi, who uses the stage name Kid Cudi.
Ignacio said he saw an Escalade in front of the house and memorized the license plate. The jury was shown a DMV report that identified the registered owner as Bad Boy Productions, Inc. Combs is the founder of record label Bad Boy Records.
Los Angeles Fire Department arson investigator Lance Jimenez also testified on Wednesday, recalling when he was dispatched to Mescudi’s home in 2012.
Jimenez said he found a Molotov cocktail in the rapper’s Porsche, but the bottle did not break, allowing the flame to smolder out and preventing further damage. Mescudi has suggested that Diddy was behind the attempted firebombing of his car.
Why It Matters
Mescudi testified in Combs’ trial on May 22. Mescudi started dating Cassie Ventura in 2011. Ventura dated Combs from 2007 to 2018. Mescudi said that he did not realize that Ventura and Combs were still together when they started dating.
Rapper Kid Cudi leaves Federal Court after testifying at the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, in New York, Thursday, May 22, 2025. Rapper Kid Cudi leaves Federal Court after testifying at the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, in New York, Thursday, May 22, 2025. AP Photo/Richard Drew
During Mescudi’s testimony, he alleged that Combs broke into his home in 2011. He also spoke about an incident in 2012 where his car caught fire in the driveway of his home.
Combs is charged federally with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
What To Know
Ignacio said he went through Mescudi’s home and recorded the incident as trespassing. He said he found no apparent stolen property or damage.
Mescudi was cooperative, but “a little flustered,” Ignacio said in his testimony.
Jurors then heard testimony from Jimenez about the 2012 car fire at Mescudi’s home. Jimenez said the explosive device was made from a 40-ounce Olde English bottle with a designer handkerchief used as a wick. A red lighter was found near the car.
He said the Porsche had a cut on the convertible roof and burn patterns on the seat and roof.
If the bottle had broken, nearby foliage and the home could have caught fire, Jimenez testified.
Jimenez said a partial DNA profile recovered from the bottle was consistent with a female contributor. He said fingerprint cards linked to the arson investigation were destroyed in 2012 by “somebody in LAPD.”
The defense then asked the judge for a mistrial, arguing that the testimony about the destroyed fingerprint cards implied that Combs was somehow involved.
Prosecutor Christy Slavik said a mistrial is “absolutely unwarranted.”
Judge Arun Subramanian denied the motion for a mistrial but struck testimony about the destruction of fingerprint cards.
What People Are Saying
Jimenez, testifying about the car fire at Mescudi’s house: “I believe the Porsche was targeted.”
Defense attorney Alexandra Shapiro, in court: “The only way to cure the outrageous prejudice is to move for a mistrial.”
What Happens Next
Witness testimony is expected to continue in the third week of Combs’ trial. He is facing life in prison if convicted of the top charge.
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