Actress Briefly Detained in Studio City, LAPD Investigating Its Conduct

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An actress said she was handcuffed and briefly detained on a Studio City street because Los Angeles police officers mistook her and her husband for a prostitute and customer, it was reported today.

“Today (Thursday) I was handcuffed and detained by two police officers from the Studio City Police Department after refusing to agree that I had done something wrong by showing affection, fully clothed, in a public place,” wrote actress Daniele Watts on her Facebook page.

Watts also posted a picture of herself sobbing as she stood in shorts, T- shirt and running shoes, next to an officer, Variety.com reported. Many are responding to the post, citing it an example of institutional racism.

Today, the LAPD released the following statement about the incident:

Los Angeles Police Department North Hollywood Patrol Officers responded to a radio call involving actress Danielle Watts after a radio call was generated by a concerned citizen.

On Thursday September 11, 2014, around 3:01 p.m., patrol officers from North Hollywood Division along with a patrol sergeant responded to a radio call of indecent exposure in the 11900 block of Ventura Boulevard. The citizen who called the police to complain told the 9-1-1 operator that a male and a female were involved in indecent exposure inside a Silver Mercedes with the vehicle door open.

The responding sergeant and police officers located two individuals that matched the description of the suspects, and they were briefly detained. Upon further investigation it was determined that no crime had been committed. Ms. Watts and her companion were subsequently released.

An internal complaint investigation has been initiated regarding this matter.

Anyone with any information regarding this incident is asked to call North Hollywood Division at 818-623-4016. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go towww.lapdonline.org, and click on “Anonymous Web Tips.”

Watts is black, her husband is white, and the police officer pictured in her photos appears Hispanic.

Watts did not mention race in her comment on the issue but possibly inferred it.

“As I was sitting in the back of the police car, I remembered the countless times my father came home frustrated or humiliated by cops when he had done nothing wrong,” she wrote. “I felt his shame, his anger.”

Watts known for her role in “Django Unchained” and currently plays comedian Martin Lawrence’s daughter in the new FX comedy “Partners.”

Watts told the entertainment magazine that she and her husband, Brian James Lucas, were mistook by police for a prostitute and john after they showed public displays of affection.

Variety.com reported that she refused to show any identification to the officers, and was handcuffed and seated in the back of their patrol car until they figured out who she was. She was quickly let go.

--City News Service

Patch Senior Editor Penny Arévalo contributed to this report.

PHOTO Patch file photo credit: Renee Schiavone.