Apparent Case Of KWB -- Kissing While Black
Jared Keller writes at mic.com, "LAPD Confuses Black Actress Kissing White Husband for Prostitute."
The actress is "Django Unchained" actress Danièle Watts, who plays the TV daughter of Martin Lawrence on FX's "Partners," reports Dish Nation. The man she was thought to be soliciting while kissing was Chef Brian James Lucas, who happens to be her husband.
African-American actress Danièle Watts claims she was "handcuffed and detained" by police officers from the Studio City Police Department in Los Angeles on Thursday after allegedly being mistaken for a prostitute.According to accounts by Watts and her husband Brian James Lucas, two police officers mistook the couple for a prostitute and client when they were seen showing affection in public. When the officers asked Watts to produce a photo ID when questioned, she refused. Watts was subsequently handcuffed and placed in the back of a police cruiser while the officers attempted to figure out who she was. The two officers released Watts shortly afterwards.
...Watt's husband Brian Lucas, who is white, claimed that the two were targeted by police for being an interracial couple. In a separate post on his Facebook page, Lucas said that "from the questions that [police] asked me as D was already on her phone with her dad, I could tell that whoever called on us (including the officers), saw a tatted RAWKer white boy and a hot bootie shorted black girl and thought we were a HO (prostitute) & a TRICK (client)."
Variety reports:
An LAPD public information officer said there was no record of the incident as Watts wasn't arrested or brought into the station for questioning.
From the traffic stops, manners, and civil liberties section of my book, "Good Manners for Nice People Who Sometimes Say F*ck," a quote from retired California cop Tracy Ambrico, a 30-year law enforcement veteran, on what to do in cases of police abuse. (Of course, this assumes you're still alive afterward):
Where people go wrong is in thinking they're powerless to fight back against an abusive cop. Ambrico says that if an officer does violate your rights or is rude or otherwise out of line, it's important to recognize that you have recourse--just probably not there, while the stop is taking place. She does say that you can ask for a supervisor to come out during the stop or go afterward to the counter at the police station and ask to file a complaint.
Thanks for posting this one, Amerz.
(Hi Art Deco! Look at that woman's face: Do you suppose what's happening to her is a "contrivance"? There are no sixteenth-floor skyways in Studio City! )
crid at September 14, 2014 12:19 AM
I'll have more to post on this tomorrow, after I'm certain Art Deco has had his heart broken by the rest of us seeing him for what he is.
(That's gotta be tough!)
(But we can see why he lost interest in his own blog, right?)
Crid [CridComment at Gmail] at September 14, 2014 1:32 AM
Question: how can you be handcuffed and NOT arrested?
Radwaste at September 14, 2014 2:12 AM
Of course, it shouldn't have mattered even if this had been a case of prostitution. Consenting adults and all that.
And as always, we are left with the question: what idiot called this in to the police, and what punishment will they receive for making a false report?
a_random_guy at September 14, 2014 2:17 AM
The recourse advice seems incredibly naive unless you're someone with juice, money, or other significant backup. Which most police targets are most certainly not.
Robintn at September 14, 2014 5:53 AM
What's the big deal w/showing an ID? Why allow him the opportunity to initiate control right out of the gate.
There's always time later to show the cop was rude and unnecessarily rough, as well as determine if he was responding to a complaint or acting on his own.
Bob in Texas at September 14, 2014 6:15 AM
"What's the big deal w/showing an ID?"
Is that what Davy Crockett and Sam Houston would have said?
Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at September 14, 2014 7:02 AM
Rad, cops can handcuff you and then let you go.
Robin, why is it "incredibly naive" to think you could go to the station afterward and make a report?
And, Bob, it is absolutely a big deal to show ID. Have you not read the Fourth Amendment of the constitution about being secure in our person, papers, etc.? I think it was great that she refused, stood up for herself and her rights and all of ours, in the process.
He "initiated control" by demanding her papers, and he had absolutely no right to do that.
KIssing a man in public is not probable cause for being a prostitute. By the way, it should be none of the government's business if you choose to exchange money and sex with another consenting adult.
It is shocking how quick so many are to shrug off our constitutional rights. By giving them up, we make it easier for them to be taken from us.
Oh, and thanks, Crid, for getting right in there with that.
Amy Alkon at September 14, 2014 7:04 AM
Fourth Amendment text -- a beautiful thing that, for centuries, has made us unique amongst the nations, and must be fought for and preserved.
Amy Alkon at September 14, 2014 7:05 AM
For all intents and purposes, we've lost our 4th Ammendment rights. We either need to get aligned with our Constitution and provide privacy in person such as this case and protect our privacy as pertainng to cell phones and the Internet or go ahead and repeal the 4th Ammendment. If you are shocked by this proposal, you must not realize how much we have already lost.
Jen at September 14, 2014 7:12 AM
If there is no complaint then he is wrong.
If he is responding to a complaint then he must decide how to find out what is going on. That's his job, to respond to a complaint. (When seconds count they will be there in minutes.)
If he asks for ID and you refuse then he has to decide how to react to your refusal while following up on the complaint.
Does he ignore the complaint and walk away? Does he detain you while figuring out WTF is going on? What are his department procedures for detention. His choices because you had your choice to respond and it was "Hell no I won't show you ID."
She placed him in total control by not conducting a simple conversation (Hi, my name is ____ and this is my husband. What's the problem Officer?)
If you want to pick a battle then do battle. If you want to go on with your day then assume the cop is doing his job to the best of his ability. (Maybe assuming his ability is not that great and he has handcuffs and mace.)
Again, if you want to show the white racist pig you know your rights then do battle. Don't whine and cry. Have a plan. Work the plan. Take the pain for the gain.
Bob in Texas at September 14, 2014 7:32 AM
what idiot called this in to the police, and what punishment will they receive for making a false report?
The were probably a school vice principle used to calling cops to assault young women for things that arent crimes.
And absolutely nothing. Remember "If you see something, say something"
Patrick, Kevin, Art Deco, Bob in Texas, Kim du Toit, this is the logical outlay of the violence by cops you support against 14 year old girls
lujlp at September 14, 2014 7:37 AM
Patrick, Kevin, Art Deco, Bob in Texas, Kim du Toit, this is the logical outlay of the violence by cops you support against 14 year old girls
What a stupid and illogical straw man argument. Clearly we disagree on the Perez matter, as adults often do, and just as clearly you can't accept that without being insulting.
This is an awful case. Wasn't it less than a month ago when Beverly Hills PD arrested a movie producer who was feeding a parking meter? He "matched the description" of a bank robber because he was black and bald.
Kevin at September 14, 2014 9:39 AM
I am discussing what happens AFTER the cop shows up AFTER a complaint is called in. (No complaint then the cop is wrong wrong wrong. That's my understanding of the 4th Amendment.)
I'm curious how you guys want a cop to respond to a complaint. How many offenders say "Yes Officer I did it. Take me away please." What do you want the cop to do on YOUR complaint when no one cooperates?
Violence by cops is when they are clubbing some one while other cops look on. You got a big problem when that become okay w/the "blue line".
Taking down a uncooperative person is done quickly, smoothly, and hard. There is no soft way to do it. Control the head and you control the body. It don't look pretty but you and they don't get hurt.
This lady and the 14 year old girl took some conversational options off the table that could have resolved both of the incidents. Once that happens cops only have "how do I detain this person while I figure out WTF is going on" options. Good luck w/that not causing some tears.
Bob in Texas at September 14, 2014 9:46 AM
Other sites are saying someone called the police complaining of public lewdness. The proper response then is for the cops to show up and see if they are, in fact, behaving lewdly in public. If they are, arrest them or warn them. If they're not, leave them be.
Bob in Texas, where are you getting that she never said this was her husband? She declined to produce ID (which, if she never changed her name, wouldn't have proved that claim anyway) which is her right. They may well have first responded with "we're married, we'll move along now" but gotten pretty testy when the cop demanded their IDs
Jenny had a chance at September 14, 2014 9:59 AM
And even if she didn't answer that this was her husband, it seems that her husband did tell the cops that they were married.
Jenny had a chance at September 14, 2014 10:06 AM
"Rad, cops can handcuff you and then let you go."
For how long?
Apparently, we have some people on this blog who think it's just fine to put people in cuffs and leave them there.
I bet it wouldn't be OK if it was them, but there you are.
Radwaste at September 14, 2014 11:21 AM
"Robin, why is it "incredibly naive" to think you could go to the station afterward and make a report?" ~Amy
About 10 years ago that would be called suicide by cop in New Orleans. That is at least one thing Katrina cleaned up.
Ben at September 14, 2014 12:17 PM
This is truly a mystery of the mind. I realize one could rationalize anything but why go to the effort when it is so absurd.
I have to believe that if you asked the officer today why he cuffed her, he'd say I was being stupid. To think otherwise is beyond belief.
Dave B at September 14, 2014 12:23 PM
Seen elsewhere.
Prostitutes kiss?
Dave B at September 14, 2014 12:36 PM
☑ Dave B at September 14, 2014 12:36 PM
Crid [CridComment at Gmail] at September 14, 2014 12:48 PM
I'm seriously changing my cell phone provider to Silent Circle. They make your phone not register anywhere.
Jim P. at September 14, 2014 1:38 PM
Other sites are saying someone called the police complaining of public lewdness. The proper response then is for the cops to show up and see if they are, in fact, behaving lewdly in public. If they are, arrest them or warn them. If they're not, leave them be.
Just wanted to bump this to the top and co-sign it. Apparently the complaint called in was "indecent exposure."
My friend had a crazy neighbor who called the cops on my friend for imaginary things -- including when my friend was out of town. Of course the cops showed up after these complaints. They had to. But when it became apparent that my friend was NOT doing what the neighbor said she was doing, the cops just left.
sofar at September 14, 2014 2:40 PM
Bob in (the shit state of) Texas: I'm glad to see someone advocate for the proper level of obsequiousness people should show their betters of the police force. If you have done nothing wrong, you have nothing to lose through humble obedience.
Duked at September 14, 2014 3:31 PM
I only visited once, and flew through with no layover one other time, and drove through in a hurry once.
But Texas is, indisputably, the finest of the United States as judged by character.
There are no contenders.
Crid [CridComment at Gmail] at September 14, 2014 3:57 PM
Watts told BuzzFeed that she had accompanied a friend to a diversity showcase before meeting Lucas at his car. "I sat on his lap in the front seat of the car and we start making out," she told BuzzFeed. A man from a nearby office came out and asked the couple to “stop putting on a show.” The police arrived shortly thereafter.
Exhibitionists.
Art Deco at September 14, 2014 4:06 PM
You don't have to show ID in California, but the Supreme Court ruled that law enforcement in Nevada and Arizona (and 20 other states) can ask for identification, and if none is forthcoming, you can be detained or arrested if there is probable cause.
Jason S. at September 14, 2014 4:11 PM
>> "…in the front seat of the car…"
> Exhibitionists.
You are a supremely loathsome little guy.
We can see why you gave up the blog.
Crid [CridComment at Gmail] at September 14, 2014 4:13 PM
> the Supreme Court ruled that law enforcement
> in Nevada and Arizona (and 20 other states)
> can ask for identification, and if none is
> forthcoming, you can be detained or
> arrested if there is probable cause.
I suspect this is not so. How could a Supreme Court rulings apply to only 22 states? And if there's probable cause, who gives a fuck about ID?
Crid [CridComment at Gmail] at September 14, 2014 4:24 PM
> Exhibitionists
Art Deco, try to do something useful with your life, and not just be a useless sack of skin, happy to let cops bully young girls just because they're black. You really are a low-life. I've never seen you contribute one useful comment here - every comment of yours I've seen has been advocating for violating someone's rights.
Lobster at September 14, 2014 4:37 PM
"I suspect this is not so."
You're right.
Law enforcement can't compel you to show ID if there isn't reasonable suspicion.
Jason S. at September 14, 2014 4:45 PM
"I sat on his lap in the front seat of the car and we start making out"
I didn't know being gross was an arrestable offense.
This girl ain't no hooker. Where the fuck is her ratted up synthetic weave? She looks like a middle class black girl that's into vegan shit, natural hair, multicultural studies and likes white guys.
Ppen at September 14, 2014 5:03 PM
Well, she likes one white guy in particular.
crid at September 14, 2014 5:07 PM
"Exhibitionists."
Prude.
Dave B at September 14, 2014 5:27 PM
"But Texas is, indisputably, the finest of the United States as judged by character."
If your basis for comparison is Mississippi, I suppose. Otherwise, nah. It's a shit state.
Duked at September 14, 2014 5:48 PM
Well as they say, I was not born here but ...
Bob in Texas at September 14, 2014 6:03 PM
El Paso, Texas is the greatest city in the nation.
Jason S. at September 14, 2014 6:14 PM
Jace-- Don't know, never been to either, but people I like say Austin has no contenders.
Crid [CridComment at Gmail] at September 14, 2014 7:20 PM
No, wait! I drove through El Paso once! Late summer '89. It was dark (because it was night) and cold (which I wasn't expecting at all).
I was in a Mazda.
It wasn't like the song at all.
Crid [CridComment at Gmail] at September 14, 2014 7:24 PM
Texas ... hmmm. Visit there OFTEN. Relatives from there. Lots of land for doing whatever you could want to do. Great roads, and great signage on the roads, and lovely speed limits. But Texans pretty much in my own humble opinion think their shit don't stink. Never wanted to go live there, just don't wanna become one. All that "Don't Mess With Texas," "God Bless Texas" has gone to their heads. Been to Texarkana? You'd think the western side crapped gold nuggets or something.
gooseegg at September 14, 2014 8:13 PM
I don't really know if El Paso is that great , but from the one day and night I spent there I learned that the University Texas El Paso college basketball team was the first all black starting team to win the NCAA championship in 1966. That was quite a moment, from what I understand.
Jason S. at September 14, 2014 8:47 PM
Plural of anecdote, yada yada, Texas is still shit.
Duked at September 14, 2014 9:24 PM
Let's say that - 20 or 30 years ago - Austin had no contenders. It was a relaxed, cultured university town - a cool place to live.
Now? Not so much. It has been taken over by refugees from California. Aside from having made Austin into another megapolis, they are repeating the same mistakes that messed up California and made them flee in the first place.
It's the typical "we mean well, so it's ok when our ideas don't work and we destroy your town". They're probably not all really from California, but certainly are that type of nutbag liberal.
a_random_guy at September 15, 2014 1:37 AM
Sorry Texas, we keep sending you the ones that couldn't make it here.
Ppen at September 15, 2014 3:59 AM
Let's say that - 20 or 30 years ago - Austin had no contenders. It was a relaxed, cultured university town - a cool place to live.
Of course, complaining about how Austin used to be great and is ruined now has been a hobby of its residents for at least the last 30 years my husband and I have lived (on and off) there.
Astra at September 15, 2014 8:15 AM
Wanna screw with a texan?
Point out that you could split Alaska in half and both halves would still be bigger than texas.
Really want to screw with em? Point out it was founded by the only people in all of history to lose to Mexico in a war.
lujlp at September 15, 2014 8:52 AM
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2014/09/15/_prostitution_actress_was_having_sex_in_public_tmz_says.html
Then, there is this. In Slate.
Isab at September 15, 2014 4:41 PM
I dont buy it, everyone has hi def video cammeras in their phones, if nearly a dozen people watched them fucking one or two would have filmed it
lujlp at September 15, 2014 10:26 PM
I dont buy it, everyone has hi def video cammeras in their phones, if nearly a dozen people watched them fucking one or two would have filmed it
Posted by: lujlp at September 15, 2014 10:26 PM
How do you know someone didn't?
Isab at September 16, 2014 6:53 AM
The 'Don't mess with Texas' thing has really gone weird. If you say that to a texan they will look at you funny and ask how they were littering. But a lot of people who have never been to texas and want to play texan dressup to pickup chicks like to use it.
Ben at September 16, 2014 10:54 AM
How do you know someone didn't?
It be on the net already
lujlp at September 16, 2014 1:42 PM
http://www.tmz.com/2014/09/17/django-unchained-actress-racism-lapd-daniele-watts-pictures-photos/
Unix-Jedi at September 17, 2014 11:02 AM
Dumb cops doing a good job. Why isn't any one posting any more on those cops doing their job talking to liars? Good work on dropping the race card though.
Mr.Havercamp at September 18, 2014 5:27 AM
http://patterico.com/2014/09/19/let-common-sense-prevail/
[chuckles]
Art Deco at September 19, 2014 8:50 PM
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