The woman seen in a viral video accusing a Black teenager of stealing her phone at a SoHo hotel has been identified, and she is now speaking out about the incident.
According to the New York Post, she is Miya, 22. The video shows her confronting trumpeter Keyon Harrold and his 14 year old son at the Arlo hotel in New York City, accusing the teen of taking her iPhone. Harrold told her the phone was not hers, and a hotel manager became involved. In the clip, she can be heard saying she is not letting the teen walk away with her phone, and Harrold’s family says she physically grabbed the teen.
On Wednesday, NYPD Chief of Detectives Rodney Harrison shared video clips of the woman on Twitter with a “WANTED” caption. He said the NYPD was asking for the public’s help locating the woman, who he said falsely accused an innocent 14 year old of stealing her cellphone and then physically attacked him.
CNN, which interviewed the woman, chose not to publish her name, saying she told the network she had concerns for her safety unrelated to the incident. In that interview, she said she tries hard to always do the right thing, and said she asked others in the lobby to empty their pockets before turning her attention to the Harrolds. She said she would be open to speaking with the Harrold family. CNN reports she stopped responding to its messages after the interview.
Reports say her phone was returned to her by an Uber driver. The NYPD has opened an investigation, and she has said she will cooperate. Reports say she could face charges including assault, grand larceny, or attempted robbery, but no charges had been announced at the time of this report.
Made to order and shipped to your door.
