ODB Busted at Philly McDonald's

November 28, 2000 -- A week after flaunting his fugitive freedom onstage in New York City, rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard was busted by a fan while trying to order at a McDonald's drive-through in Philadelphia.

The 31-year-old Wu-Tang Clan member, whose real name is Russell Jones, escaped Oct. 17 from a Pasadena, Calif., drug-rehabilitation center, where he was undergoing treatment after violating probation. His probation stemmed from 1999 charges of making terrorist threats and being a felon in possession of body armor (i.e., a bulletproof vest).

A Los Angeles judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest soon after his disappearance. Jones, who has been arrested nine times in the past 13 months, is also wanted in New York City, where he faces various drug and motor vehicle charges.

The rapper stunned hundreds of fans last week by showing up at the release party for the Wu-Tang Clan's new album, The W, at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom.

"I can't stay onstage too long tonight — the cops is after me," he told the crowd last Tuesday night, saying he planned to become "like a bird" living off "birdseeds or whatever … you'll see."

Could he have meant the sesame seeds on a Big Mac? While in the drive-through lane at a Philadelphia McDonald's, a policewoman happened to spot him in a 1991 Mitsubishi Galant with New Jersey license plates.

"She knew him from listening to his music, and knew he was wanted by police," Sgt. Mel Williams told the Philadelphia Daily News. "She stopped him and found out it was him."

Police said Jones did not try to flee arresting officer Rebecca Anderson. He was due to appear at an extradition hearing today.

Reuters contributed to this report.