Wyclef Jean
claims he was the victim of racial profiling after police mistook him for an
armed robbery suspect.
Los Angeles
Sheriff’s Department deputies handcuffed and briefly detained the musician
early Tuesday morning, in an encounter Wyclef documented partially on social
media. According to the LASD, authorities cleared him of wrongdoing within a few
minutes and let him go.
A rep for
Wyclef claimed in a statement to Access Hollywood that the Grammy winner was “subject to police brutality, racial profiling,
police bias and the ongoing discriminatory practices of law enforcement
officials” in the incident, and will now be taking further action.
WATCH: Wyclef Jean Sounds Off After Being Mistaken For Armed Robbery Suspect
“As such, Mr. Jean is requesting a formal investigation into racial profiling by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, LAPD chief Charlie Beck and the LA Sheriff’s Department while calling upon the ACLU and Black Lives Matter to join him in defense of civil liberties and racial bias,” the statement continued.
Earlier, the LASD issued an apology, calling the incident “unfortunate” while also explaining that Wyclef’s clothing and the vehicle he was traveling in matched the suspect’s description.
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The statement went on to assert that Wyclef had “no involvement whatsoever in this violent crime.”
Shortly after the former Fugees rapper was released, the LASD arrested a different male suspect and a female suspect with no known connection to Wyclef just blocks from where they had questioned him.
Access
Hollywood has reached out to the LASD for comment on Wyclef’s
allegations.
— Erin Biglow
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