Anger erupted online when a video surfaced on Monday showing Los Angeles cops with their guns aimed at an unarmed Black woman.
But police are now saying that woman was involved in a brutal kidnapping plot and had a warrant out for her arrest, reports the Los Angeles Times.
Amber Neal was reportedly on the run after she was indicted last month along with Keith Andre Stewart and Johntae Jones for kidnapping actor Joseph Capone, stripping him naked and starving him for more than a day, while plotting to extort ransom, according to court documents.
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The viral video got social media stirring and the LAPD was heavily criticized for their handling of what people thought was the mishandling of an innocent Black woman.
So this happened today in Inglewood. The police stopped this woman and drew guns out at her even though (clear as day) she had nothing in her hands. pic.twitter.com/yUAdimc2hC
— ricky? (@x__ricardo) July 2, 2018
But the LAPD said the woman was one of three suspects wanted for the violent kidnapping plot, said Officer Mike Lopez, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department.
Stewart, Jones and Neal allegedly went to the home of actress Daisy McCrackin and “pistol whipped” actor Capone, prosecutors said. Then they placed black hoods on both victims.
According to court records the three suspects were charged with 17 felonies, including kidnapping, assault with a firearm and mayhem in connection with the May 2017 incident.
Neal, along with Stewart allegedly forced McCrackin write a check for $10,000 to secure Capone’s release and drove her to a bank to make the transaction. McCrackin escaped and alerted police. Neal is charged with six counts: one count each of kidnapping to commit another crime, perjury by declaration, forgery and grand theft auto, as well as two counts of conspiracy to commit a crime
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