Sean Diddy Combs, the 54-year-old hip-hop icon, has been placed on suicide watch at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC), where he awaits trial on multiple charges, including sex trafficking, racketeering, and transporting individuals for prostitution. Sources told People that this decision was a “preventative measure” following his recent arrest, as officials deemed his mental state “unclear.”
What is a suicide watch?
Suicide watch, according to the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Institute of Correction, is a supervisory precaution for inmates considered to be at risk, involving frequent observation. It remains unclear how long Combs has been or will remain under this status or whether he is suicidal.
Arrest and indictment details
Combs’ placement under supervision follows his dramatic arrest earlier this week at the Park Hyatt New York by federal agents. He faces serious accusations detailed in a three-count indictment. Federal prosecutors allege that Combs orchestrated disturbing “Freak Off” sex sessions, in which women were forced into sexual acts with male prostitutes. These acts were reportedly recorded, while Combs allegedly watched and masturbated.
The indictment claims that Combs manipulated women under the guise of romantic relationships, later coercing them into participating in these sex performances. Drugs were reportedly used to “keep the victims obedient and compliant,” and the “Freak Offs” could last for days. After these sessions, participants allegedly received IV fluids to recover from the extreme physical exertion and drug use.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges and was denied bail by Manhattan Federal Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky. He is currently being held without bail at MDC, a facility that houses both pre-trial detainees and those serving short federal sentences.
Harsh conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Center
Combs’ legal team has raised concerns about the conditions at the MDC, which has garnered a reputation for its harsh environment. “Just earlier this summer, an inmate was murdered,” Combs’ lawyers noted, pointing out that four suicides have occurred there in the past three years.
The jail, notorious for its treatment of inmates, has previously housed high-profile figures such as R. Kelly and Ghislaine Maxwell, both convicted of sex-related crimes. The facility currently holds about 1,700 inmates, with a capacity of nearly 3,000.
The ‘Freak Off’ allegations
According to court documents, the “Freak Offs” were elaborate, often recorded, and organized by Combs, who allegedly directed and participated in these sessions. The indictment also claims that Combs’ employees helped facilitate the events by arranging travel, booking hotel rooms, and providing items such as lubricants and drugs.
A raid on Combs’ homes in Miami and Los Angeles in March uncovered more than 1,000 bottles of lubricant and several AR-15 firearms, further complicating his legal situation.
As Combs awaits trial, his legal team continues to push for alternative housing arrangements, arguing that the conditions inside the notorious MDC are unsuitable for the music mogul, who has been a towering figure in the entertainment industry for decades. The trial and its proceedings are sure to remain closely watched as these shocking allegations unfold.