Dancehall artiste Leonard Bartley, more popularly known as Merciless, is rumoured to have been arrested in the United States. Efforts by THE STAR to contact Merciless himself were unsuccessful, as his phone rang without an answer.

When contacted, however, Merciless' manager, Gadaffie, says he had also been trying to get in contact with the artiste, but met a similar fate.

"Him did book fi do dis show name Carifest in New York, the last week in August an him never show up an mi nuh hear from him since dat," Gadaffie said.

Gadaffie says he too had been hearing some rumours relating to Merciless being in trouble with the law in the U.S. "I saw his brother the other day an him did a sey him hear sey Merciless inna lockup, but dem nuh sure what's happening either," Gadaffie told The STAR.

He added, "one a di time mi did all hear like some people did a try steal him car an him an him brethren rush out an run dem down an dem mussy find a gun pon one a dem, but mi nuh know how true dat is."

In the meantime, Gadaffie says he should be in a better position to say exactly what has happened to Merciless when he goes to the U.S this weekend.

"Mi a guh up dis Saturday, so mi wi definitely find out what's happening and Monday when I return, I should be in a better position to say what is what," Gadaffie said.

Merciless is next billed to perform at the Crystal Spring Family Fun Day in Buff Bay, Portland, on November 11.