This was a big mess-up.
Wyclef Jean was handcuffed after police confused him for an armed robbery suspect. The incident occurred in Los Angeles early yesterday morning (March 21).
Jean, who first achieved fame as a member of the Fugees and subsequently had a successful solo career, took to social media to document his side of the events.
The singer/rapper uploaded videos from the scene to Twitter and Instagram. In one of the clips, Jean says that “the LAPD have me in ‘cuffs for absolutely nothing” while another shows him trying to explain to the authorities that he is “recording artist”.
LAPD another case of mistaken identity. Black man with red bandana robbed a gas station as I was in the studio working but im in handcuffs?
Jean also talked about the incident in a series of subsequent tweets, in which he claimed he was “instantly handcuffed before being asked to identify myself” and was “treated like a criminal until other police showed up and pointed out they had wrong person.”
He added: “I am sure no father wants his sons or daughters to see him in Handcuffs especially if he is innocent… As some one who has law enforcers in my family, I was appalled by this behavior of the LAPD.”
I was asked by the police to Put my hands up. Then I was told do not move. I was instantly hand cuffed before being asked to identify myself
Nor was I told why I was being cuffed. In the process I said my name and told them they have wrong person.
They proceeded to ignore me and I was treated like a criminal until other police showed up and pointed out they had wrong person.
I am sure no father wants his sons or daughters to see him in Handcuffs especially if he is innocent.
As some one who has law enforcers in my family, I was appalled by this behavior of the LAPD.
A spokesperson for the LAPD has told NBC News that police were looking for “an armed black male wearing a gray- or dark-colored hoodie with a red bandana” who had robbed a nearby gas station and suggest that the case of mistaken identity was due to Jean also wearing a red bandana. CBS Los Angeles reports that a suspect was later arrested with the gun thought to have been used in the robbery.
Via NME
Story by Deirdre Molumby Entertainment.ie
