Wyclef Jean was handcuffed by LAPD as they mistook him for an armed robber they were searching for.
The rapper documented the event on social media as it occurred on Tuesday morning. Jean uploaded videos of the incident onto Twitter and Instagram. The clips show the Haitian handcuffed by police while saying “the LAPD have me in ‘cuffs for absolutely nothing.”
LAPD another case of mistaken identity. Black man with red bandana robbed a gas station as I was in the studio working but im in handcuffs? pic.twitter.com/vjRfJUkooA
— Wyclef Jean (@wyclef) March 21, 2017
The rapper then took to Twitter give his account of what happened.
I was asked by the police to Put my hands up. Then I was told do not move. I was instantly hand cuffed before being asked to identify myself
— Wyclef Jean (@wyclef) March 21, 2017
Nor was I told why I was being cuffed. In the process I said my name and told them they have wrong person.
— Wyclef Jean (@wyclef) March 21, 2017
They proceeded to ignore me and I was treated like a criminal until other police showed up and pointed out they had wrong person.
— Wyclef Jean (@wyclef) March 21, 2017
I am sure no father wants his sons or daughters to see him in Handcuffs especially if he is innocent.
— Wyclef Jean (@wyclef) March 21, 2017
As some one who has law enforcers in my family, I was appalled by this behavior of the LAPD.
— Wyclef Jean (@wyclef) March 21, 2017
Wyclef Jean had been in the studio at the time of the robbery which took place at a nearby gas station. Speaking to NBC, LADP said they were searching for “an armed black male wearing a gray- or dark-colored hoodie with a red bandana“. Jean was reportedly wearing a red bandana, which is where the mix up came from.
