Amy Cooper made second call claiming black birdwatcher tried to assault her

Amy Cooper, the white woman charged with filing a false police report for calling 911 during a videotaped dispute with a black birdwatcher in New York’s Central Park, made a second, previously undisclosed, emergency call in which she added that the man had tried to assault her, it was revealed on Wednesday.

Manhattan district attorney Cyrus Vance called Cooper’s complaints a hoax and noted it was lucky that no one had been injured or killed that day as a result.

Prosecutors said the case may be resolved by her participating in a program to educate her and the community “on the harm caused by such actions”.

Cooper appeared by video at an arraignment but did not enter a plea to the misdemeanor charge.

The case was adjourned until 17 November to allow prosecutors and her lawyer to work on a possible resolution.

Cooper made two 911 calls about the encounter, prosecutors said. In the call captured on a widely seen video of their exchange, she claimed the man was threatening her, after he asked her to follow park rules and put her dog on a leash.

In the second call, prosecutors said Cooper falsely alleged the man had “tried to assault her”.

“Using the police in a way that was both racially offensive and designed to intimidate is something that can’t be ignored. Therefore we charged her,” said assistant district attorney Joan IlluzziOrbon.

Illuzzi-Orbon did not get into details on what actions Cooper might be required to take, but said the 40-yearold former investment portfolio manager would have to take responsibility for her actions.

The criminal process “can be an opportunity for introspection and education”, Illuzzi-Orbon said. The range of options could include some type of racial sensitivity training or a public awareness campaign.

In a statement, the Manhattan district attorney, Cyrus Vance Jr, said his office “will pursue a resolution of this case which holds Ms Cooper accountable while healing our community, restoring justice, and deterring others from perpetuating this racist practice”.

“Fortunately, no one was injured or killed in the police response to Ms Cooper’s hoax,” said Vance.

Cooper drew widespread condemnation and was fired from her job at the investment firm Franklin Templeton