Central Park 'Karen' Amy Cooper Has Case Dismissed
- by Leland Aguilar
- in Entertaiment
- — Feb 17, 2021
The statement noted that Cooper was charged with falsely reporting an incident in the third degree and that the motion to dismiss the charge was granted by a judge.
Amy Cooper completed an educational course.
After completing the five sessions, her therapist "reported that it was a moving experience, and that Miss Cooper learned a lot in their sessions together", Illuzi said.
"Others rushed to the wrong conclusion based on inadequate investigation & they may yet face legal consequences", Barnes added.
Amy Cooper's lawyer, Robert Barnes, praised prosecutors for a "thorough and honest inquiry" into the allegations and said he agreed with the decision to dismiss the case.
In it she was seen threatening Christian Cooper, no relation, with the police after he reportedly asked her to put her dog on a lead.
Cooper, 40, received widespread condemnation and was sacked from her job previous year after she was seen telling a New York Police Department (NYPD) dispatcher over the phone that "an African American" male was threatening her and her dog inside the Central Park Ramble on May 25, 2020. It was previously reported incorrectly that Cooper was the one who called 911 again. "When responding officers arrived, Ms. Cooper admitted that the male had not "tried to assault" or come into contact with her".
"The simple principle is: One cannot use the police to threaten another and, in this case, in a racially offensive and charged manner", Illuzzi said.
Later Tuesday, Christian Cooper posted a statement on Facebook, again declining to discuss the case, but this time mentioning Amy Cooper in arguing for Washington, D.C., statehood.
Ernest Owens, a prominent Black journalist, tweeted: "White privilege, 2021".
Cooper, who appeared via video during the virtual hearing, only spoke briefly and said that she did not wish to address the court. She walks over to him and asks him to stop recording to which he refused.
"There is an African-American man, I'm in Central Park".
Cooper later told CNN she regretted calling the police: "It was unacceptable, and words are just words, but I can't undo what I did".
"Please call the cops", said Christian Cooper. "I did not mean to harm that man in any way".
Amy Cooper's 911 call inspired NY lawmakers to pass a law making it easier to sue a person who calls police on someone "without reason" due to their background, including race and national origin.
