Hernandez Govan, the Memphis man acquitted last year in the killing of rapper Young Dolph, is back in custody after a new arrest on stalking and harassment charges, Memphis police said. Officers with the Memphis Police Department’s fugitive unit located Govan on Thursday, June 11, 2026, near Getwell Road and American Way and took him into custody without incident. Police say the arrest stems from a separate domestic-related complaint and is not connected to the Young Dolph investigation.
According to WREG, a warrant charging Govan with harassment and stalking was issued June 10 after investigators reviewed an incident reported on June 4. The outlet reports that the 47-year-old was arrested without incident and booked into Shelby County custody, and notes that the new counts are unrelated to the 2021 killing of Adolph "Young Dolph" Thornton Jr.
Trial Background
Govan was acquitted in August 2025 of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder after a Shelby County jury deliberated for about three hours, according to The Associated Press. Prosecutors had argued he helped arrange the ambush of Adolph "Young Dolph" Thornton Jr. outside a local cookie shop in November 2021, but jurors rejected the state’s theory. The verdict closed a closely watched local trial that had drawn national attention.
New Charges, Police Say
Memphis police told WREG that the stalking and harassment warrant grew out of a domestic-related incident reported on June 4 and was issued on June 10. Detectives in the fugitive unit later spotted Govan near Getwell Road and American Way and arrested him without using force, the department said. Authorities have not released further details about the alleged victim or the specific conduct described in the warrant.
Legal Implications
Under Tennessee law, stalking and related harassment can range from misdemeanor to felony offenses depending on factors such as continued conduct, prior convictions, or violation of court orders, as outlined in TCA §39‑17‑315 (Justia). Aggravating circumstances, including violations of protection orders or repeated offenses against the same victim, can elevate potential penalties. As with any criminal matter, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
What Comes Next
It was not immediately clear when Govan will next appear in court on the new charges; booking and court-scheduling details were not available at the time of initial reporting. The arrest adds a separate legal chapter to a case that has kept Memphis courts and the music community watching since 2021. Public court filings and police statements are expected to clarify the next steps.
