Woman’s second call allegedly claimed ‘assault’
NEW YORK — A woman who was broadly criticized for calling police on a Black birdwatcher in Central Park during a contentious encounter in May — leading to a criminal charge against her — called police a second time and further lied that he “tried to assault” her, prosecutors alleged at her court appearance Wednesday.
Amy Cooper drew national scorn and was branded a “Karen” after she was recorded on the man’s cellphone video complaining to a 911 operator that she was being harassed by an “African American man” and that he was threatening her and her dog. She had been walking the dog without a leash in a wooded area of the parkwhere such activity is prohibited, and the man took issue with what she was doing.
Cooperwas charged with amisdemeanor count of falsely reporting an incident in the third degree.
The woman “twice reported” that the Blackmanwas putting her in harm’sway, “first by stating that he was threatening her and her dog, then in a second call indicating that he tried to assault her in the Ramble area of the park,” Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi said at Cooper’s arraignment in Manhattan criminal court.
Cooper appeared in front of a judge through a video feed.
After the incident, Cooper released an apology, saying she “reacted emotionally and made false assumptions abouthis intentions,” noting that he had every right to ask that she leash her dog in an area where it was required. “I am well aware of the pain that misassumptions and insensitive statements about race cause andwould never have imagined that I would be involved in the type of incident that occurred with Chris.”
Prosecutors said Cooper is in talks to settle her criminal case in a way that “canprovide anopportunity for introspection and education.”
The programshe is expected to consider is “designed to have the defendant take responsibility for her actions but also educate her and the community about the harmcausedby such action,” Illuzzi said. “We hope that this process will enlighten, heal and prevent similar harm to our community in the future.”
Illuzzidid not disclose the terms of the deal being discussed with Cooper and her defense attorney, Robert Barnes. The case was adjourned to Nov. 17, when she is slated to accept a deal to settle her case.
Amy Cooper called the New York Police Department for help during her encounter with Christian Cooper — no relation — during a confrontation about 8:15 a.m. on May 25 in a serenewooded area of Central Park.
ChristianCooper, abirdwatcher who frequents that area of the park, spotted the woman and asked her to put her dog on a leash.
“He is recording me and threatening myself and my dog,” she said, appearing as frantic on the call with a 911 dispatcher.
Amy Cooper, an Upper West Side resident, was fired from her job at the Franklin Templeton investment firm after the videowent viral online. She was widely seen as having used white privilege to get action against the man with whom she was arguing.