LA police officer who arrested Daniele Watts faces fine of for leaking recording

Publish date: 2024-04-20

A police officer accused of racism after he arrested Django Unchained actress Daniele Watts is being told to pay a $10,000 fine for leaking audio of the incident.

Sergeant James Parker released a recording of his encounter with Watts after she was found having sex in a parked car in an attempt to show the arrest was not racially motivated. 

But now the  Los Angeles Ethics Commission is demanding recently retired Parker admits he was wrong to release the tape - or else hand over the money.

Sergeant James Parker (left) released a recording of his encounter with Daniele Watts (right) after she was found having sex in a parked car in an attempt to show the arrest was not racially motivated

Sergeant James Parker (left) released a recording of his encounter with Daniele Watts (right) after she was found having sex in a parked car in an attempt to show the arrest was not racially motivated

If the officer admits his guilt, the Ethics Commission would reduce the fine to $2,500, reports TMZ.

In September 2014, Parker approached Watts after onlookers complained she was having sex with her boyfriend in a car with the door open outside the CBS studios in Los Angeles.

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Parker, who was with two other officers, told Watts she would just be detained but then arrested her when she refused to hand over her ID. 

She claimed the police were heavy-handed and left her 'wrist bleeding in pain' and said the whole affair left her humiliated. 

Her boyfriend, Brian James Lucas, specifically said on Facebook the LAPD arrested them after they assumed his girlfriend was a prostitute because they saw an interracial couple.

 But now the Los Angeles Ethics Commission is demanding recently retired Parker (pictured) admits he was wrong to release the tape - or else hand over the money

 But now the Los Angeles Ethics Commission is demanding recently retired Parker (pictured) admits he was wrong to release the tape - or else hand over the money

In the immediate aftermath, prominent civil rights leaders took up Watts' cause. 

But they then asked her to apologize when the audio - leaked to TMZ - was made public.

Parker said the recordings showed he was simply responding to 911 calls and behaved reasonably during their encounter.

He added that it was Watts' attitude and uncooperative nature that led to her arrest.

Pictures obtained by TMZ showed Daniele Watts straddling her boyfriend Brian James Lucas in his car while the couple steady themselves with their hands on the car sunroof

Pictures obtained by TMZ showed Daniele Watts straddling her boyfriend Brian James Lucas in his car while the couple steady themselves with their hands on the car sunroof

In the recording, Watts told Parker: 'Do you know how many times the cops have been called just for being black? 

'Just because I am black and he's white? I'm just being really honest.'   

In May last year, Watts pleaded no contest to disturbing the peace with loudness. 

She was ordered to write an apology to three police officers and the occupants of a building near where she was briefly detained.

Parker is not expected to accept the Ethics Commissions demands to admit wrongdoing, meaning his case will go to trial.

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