Police detain Django Unchained actress after mistaking her for prostitute
An actress who appeared in Django Unchained said she was misidentified as a prostitute by police when she was only showing affection to her white companion.
The Los Angeles Police Department said that officers detained Daniele Watts and her companion last week after a complaint that two people were “involved in indecent exposure” in a silver Mercedes.
Watts was detained until police determined no crime was committed.
On a Facebook page that appears to be associated with the actress, Watts says she was guilty only of showing affection in public.
Her companion wrote on the social media site that because she is black and he is white, onlookers assumed them to be a prostitute and client.
Police say an internal investigation has been launched.
Watts told KCBS-TV that she and Brian Lucas were embracing in the car on Thursday.
Lucas said he felt the officer mistook Watts for a prostitute “because he was asking me questions like, ’Who is she? How do you know her? Are you together?”.
Watts said she walked away and another officer put her in handcuffs and into the back of a patrol car. She was released after police identified her.
Police said an internal investigation has been launched.
