Wyclef Jean Was Falsely Arrested By The LAPD This Morning
The New York Times says that Wyclef Jean, one third of The Fugees, was arrested and briefly detained at 1 this morning in West Hollywood. What did Wyclef do to get arrested? Well, apparently all he had to do was sort of fit the description of a robbery suspect.
Wyclef tweeted a video of his arrest a few hours after it happened. Wyclef explains that there was no reason for his arrest by the LAPD, which happened after he had left a recording studio. He also claims they took his red Haitian bandana.
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? pic.twitter.com/vjRfJUkooA
— Wyclef Jean (@wyclef) March 21, 2017
A few hours after that, he tweeted a bit more information regarding his ordeal.
They proceeded to ignore me and I was treated like a criminal until other police showed up and pointed out they had wrong person.
— Wyclef Jean (@wyclef) March 21, 2017
Nor was I told why I was being cuffed. In the process I said my name and told them they have wrong person.
— Wyclef Jean (@wyclef) March 21, 2017
I am sure no father wants his sons or daughters to see him in Handcuffs especially if he is innocent.
— Wyclef Jean (@wyclef) March 21, 2017
As some one who has law enforcers in my family, I was appalled by this behavior of the LAPD.
— Wyclef Jean (@wyclef) March 21, 2017
Sgt. C. Duncan, an officer with the LA County Sheriff’s Department, explained to the New York Times how Wyclef’s case of mistaken identity happened. Sgt. Duncan claims that officers were investigating an armed robbery that happened to a man and a woman in West Hollywood by a man in a dark hoodie and a red bandana who fled the scene in a gold or tan Toyota. At around 1:25am, police pulled over a vehicle matching the description that was driven by Wyclef’s manager, a woman, with Wyclef – who was wearing a red bandana – in the passenger seat.
As we know, Wyclef explained that they had the wrong person, but they kept him detained. Eventually another police officer identified Wyclef Jean as that Wyclef Jean. Wyclef was released when police were informed by the victims that there was no female accomplice, and after – and this is embarrassing – the real suspect was arrested elsewhere. Sgt. Duncan claims Wyclef was only detained for about six minutes.
Wyclef Jean has one of the most recognizable voices ever. Like, when he opens his mouth, you know you’re talking to Wyclef Jean. That would have been the first line on the victim statement sheet: “He asked me to put my hands up and I knew it was the dude from The Fugees who isn’t Pras.” With that being said, those arresting officers need to get their damn hearing checked. Even if they didn’t recognize his voice right away, literally all the police had to do to verify his identity was ask him to say “Shakira, Shakira” and they’d know that, yeah, they probably don’t have the right guy.
Pic: Wenn.com