You might remember a bizarre incident from last September in which “Django Unchained” actress Daniele Watts was handcuffed and detained for, as reported by gossip site TMZ, having “full-on sex [with her boyfriend] in the passenger seat WITH THE DOOR OPEN!” Watts alleged that she was merely kissing her boyfriend, and because she is black and he is white, a racist police officer assumed she was a prostitute and handcuffed her.
Within days, Watts’ story began to fall apart, thanks to video of the incident and a 911 call which backed up LAPD Sgt. Jim Parker. Watts eventually pleaded no contest to disturbing the peace and was ordered to write a letter of apology to the sergeant.
The Los Angeles Times reports that the LAPD “launched an internal affairs inquiry into the officers’ actions after Watts and [boyfriend Brian] Lucas complained publicly that the actress had been handcuffed. Lucas wrote on Facebook that police acted as if the couple had been engaged in prostitution.” Parker is a 26-year veteran of the police force.
Attorney for "Django" actress, boyfriend says letters of apology are a "nice ending to an emotionally charged case." More soon @LANow.
— Kate Mather (@katemather) May 4, 2015
#LAPD Sgt. Jim Parker's reaction to Daniele Watts plea: "It would have been a non-issue if she had not gone public in the first place."
— Kate Mather (@katemather) May 4, 2015
Join the conversation as a VIP Member