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Wyclef Jean handcuffed by LA County deputies after mistaken identity
Grammy Award winning Wyclef Jean was detained by Los Angeles authorities, in search of an armed robbery suspect.
The incident prompted the hip hop artist to share an 18 second clip in his Twitter account to where he mentioned “I was treated like a criminal”.
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
Jean said he was pulled over whilst returning from a recording studio. He adds he was not told why he was being cuffed, notifying them that they had the wrong person.
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
— 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
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
Sherrif’s Sgt. Charles Duncan said that patrol units pulled over a vehicle matching the description of a suspect vehicle. The suspect had robbed and pistol whipped two people in West Hollywood, they add.
Duncan mentioned that the victims of the crime had described that the assailant was wearing a red bandana, as Jean had also a red bandana.
Once the deputies received more information, they had realized that they attained the wrong person and Jean was released.
According to the sheriff’s office, the hip hop artist was detained for about six minutes.
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
Jean believes what happened to him was far worse than a case of mistaken identity.
A statement released by a spokesman for the actor and singer, calling for Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, LAPD chief Charlie Beck and the LA Sheriff’s Department to formally investigate racial profiling.
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
