L.A. Sheriff’s Department Offers Apology to Wyclef Jean for Detainment Over Mistaken Identity

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department offered an apology to Wyclef Jean on Tuesday afternoon, hours after he was handcuffed and briefly detained near a Los Angeles recording studio in a case of mistaken identity. 

The singer, songwriter and occasional actor posted video on social media of himself being detained, which included the comment, “LAPD another case of mistaken identity. Black man with red bandana robbed a gas station as I was in the studio working but I’m in handcuffs?”

Jean has more than 4.2 million social media followers.

It was actually deputies with the West Hollywood division of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department who stopped Jean. LAPD confirmed their officers were not involved.  

“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 sheriff’s department said in a lengthy statement, which also detailed the crime. “The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is apologetic for any inconvenience this process caused Mr. Jean.”

Jean criticized authorities not long after the incident over how he said he as treated. 

“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,” Jean tweeted in an additional post. “As some one who has law enforcers in my family, I was appalled by this behavior of the LAPD.”

The sheriff’s department said deputies “are frequently required to make lawful detentions, under the strict parameters provided by law, in the interest of catching often dangerous and armed suspects in our communities and keeping the public safe.”

The suspects authorities were looking for were apprehended, according to the department’s statement. 

“Since this writing, neither Mr. Jean nor his representatives have personally contacted the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the actual agency whose deputies reasonably and lawfully detained him,” the sheriff’s department wrote. 

See Jean’s tweets and full police statement below:  

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

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

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

12:04 p.m.This posted has been updated with a statement from the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department.