After slamming the LAPD, Wyclef Jean receives an apology from LA County deputies.
The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department issued a formal apology to Wyclef Jean today. This came hours after Los Angeles County deputies arrested the popular rapper in a case of mistaken identity.
After leaving the studio early Tuesday morning, cops approached Wyclef Jean and arrested him. The Haitian musician and actor took to social media.
In the video, Wyclef says,
“L.A., right now, coming from the studio. Y’all see the police have handcuffs on me. They just took off my Haitian bandanna. That’s what’s going on right now with Wyclef in L.A. right now. The L.A.P.D. have me in cuffs for absolutely nothing.”
Wyclef Jean erroneously identified the officers as the LAPD. They were, in fact, LA County Sheriff deputies from the West Hollywood division. The LAPD quickly took to social media to set the record straight.
This morning @wyclef erroneously tweeted that he had been detained by the #LAPD. We can confirm that we WERE NOT involved in that incident
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) 21 de marzo de 2017
Before his arrest, an African-American man wearing a red bandana had robbed a local gas station. Authorities initially received a call reporting the robbery at 12:50 am. The unidentified man pulled a gun on two victims and told them to “give me everything you have.” He then fled in a vehicle similar to one used by Jean. Deputies had pulled Jean’s car over, asked him to exit the vehicle, and proceeded to arrest him.
Following the arrest, LA County deputies let Jean go. Officials had only held him for 6 minutes. A 26-year old man was later arrested.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department offered an apology to the Haitian rapper Tuesday afternoon.
“It is unfortunate that Mr. Jean was detained for six minutes during this investigation, as he had no involvement whatsoever in this violent crime. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is apologetic for any inconvenience this process caused Mr. Jean.”
Recalling the event, Wyclef Jean wrote on Instagram,
“I was asked by the police to put my hands up. Then I was told do not move. I was instantly handcuffed before being asked to identify myself and before being told why. 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. I am sure no father wants his sons or daughters to see him in handcuffs especially if he is innocent. As someone who has law enforcers in my family, I was appalled by the behavior of the LAPD.”
He later wrote on Twitter,
“I am sure no father wants his sons or daughters to see him in Handcuffs especially if he is innocent.”