Authorities in New York City on Wednesday released parts of a security camera video showing a woman rushing at him, trying to tackle the 14-year-old son of jazz musician Keyon Harrold, who she falsely accused of using her iPhone stole what she left behind in an Uber.
The ten-second recording shows how the woman Keyon Harrold Jr. and wrapped her arms around him on Saturday in the foyer of the Arlo Soho, a luxury boutique hotel in New York where Harrold and his son were guests.
The New York Police Department said Tuesday that the teenager’s father suffered a scratch on his hand. No other injuries were reported.
Police said they were looking for the woman and identified her as ‘positive’ but did not identify her in public. According to police, the incident is not being investigated as a biased incident. Harrold and his son are black and have suggested that racial prejudice played a role in the incident.
On Sunday, Harrold shared the initial minute-long video of the heated exchange on social media. In the video, the woman can be heard charging the father and son and shouting, “Show me my phone!” It can also be heard that a man in the video identified himself as the hotel manager and asked Harrold Jr. to see his phone.
Before the video cut out, it looked like the woman approached Harrold and asked the jazz musician to shout, “Get your hands off!”
The video quickly went viral over the weekend, with many on social media accusing the woman and hotel employees of racially discriminating against Harrold and his son.
NBC News has not determined the woman’s identity, and it is not clear what happened before or after what is shown in the recordings or video of Harrold.
The woman told CNN on Tuesday that she was assaulted during the altercation on Saturday, but the network could not confirm her allegations with investigators or the hotel. The NYPD and Arlo SoHo did not immediately return NBC News’ request for comment.
The 22-year-old woman said she initially asked another person to “empty their pockets” before she told Harrold Jr. confront, which CNN according to the network also could not confirm.
The woman said she was concerned about how she was portrayed in the video, saying it was not an accurate depiction.
“It’s not who I am. I actually try very hard to make sure I always do the right thing, ‘she said.
CNN did not publicly identify the woman due to security issues unrelated to the incident.
She added that she was willing to work with investigators, but said she had not yet received a call from authorities and had not yet issued it herself. She also said she would be willing to talk to the Harrold family.
The woman stopped responding to the network after initially agreeing to give evidence confirming her allegation that she was assaulted, according to the network.
Arlo Hotel apologized to the Harrold family on Monday, saying more could be done to resolve the dispute.
“We are deeply saddened by the recent incident of unfounded accusation, prejudice and assault against an innocent guest of the Arlo Hotel,” the hotel said in a statement. “No Arlo guest – or any person – may be subjected to this conduct.”
“We are committed to making sure this never happens again at any of our hotels,” the hotel said.
Civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, representing the Harrold family, called on the Manhattan District Attorney to file assault and battery charges against the woman.
Crump also called for a civil rights inquiry into the Arlo Hotel for ‘implicit prejudice’ in the treatment of the Harrold family.
A DA spokesman in Manhattan told NBC News on Monday that the office was investigating the incident thoroughly.
The jazz musician, accompanied by Crump and Rev. Al Sharpton, spoke at a news conference on Wednesday.
“I can not even get down to New York City – the leading New York City – and just go to brunch without being attacked and wrongly accused of it,” Harrold said. “The idea of trauma is higher than any charge that could ever take place.”
“I want my son to be healed,” he said.
