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Judge Dismisses Charges Against Amy Cooper, Woman Who Called Police On Black Birdwatcher In Central Park
By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 16, 2021
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Christian Cooper
By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 16, 2021
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A judge agreed to dismiss charges against a white woman who falsely accused a Black birdwatcher in Central Park of assaulting her, after prosecutors said that she had completed a restorative justice resolution.
Amy Cooper had been charged with falsely reporting an incident, a misdemeanor. "Given the issues at hand and Ms. Cooper’s lack of criminal background, we offered her, consistent with our position on many misdemeanor cases involving a first arrest, an alternative, restorative justice resolution; designed not just to punish but to educate and promote community healing," Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi said on Tuesday.
On May 25th, 2020, a Black birdwatcher, Christian Cooper (no relation), was in the Ramble when he filmed an encounter with Amy Cooper, who had been with her dog in the park. She became upset that he pointed out the sign that says dogs must be leashed in that specific part of Central Park; she claimed that her dog needed to be off-leash since dog runs had been closed at the time due to the pandemic.
Christian Cooper suggested that she leave the Ramble, but she refused. He filmed their exchange, with the video showing Amy Cooper approaching him. "Please don't come close to me," Christian Cooper asks, while continuing to request that she leash her dog.
The video then shows Amy Cooper holding her dog by the collar and lifting it in the air repeatedly, as she calls a 911 operator. In a distressed voice, she is heard telling the operator—while Christian Cooper remains stationary and at a distance—"I'm in the Ramble and there was a man—African American, he has a bicycle helmet... there's an African-American man, I'm in Central Park, and he's recording me and threatening myself and my dog!.. I'm being threatened by a man in Central Park! Please send the cops immediately!"
Then, when she finally agrees to leash her dog, Christian Cooper thanks her and leaves. By the time police arrived at the scene, Amy Cooper admitted that no Black man had come near her or tried to assault her.
Christian Cooper shared the video as another example of a white person weaponizing the police against people of color, and the footage went viral.
On Tuesday, Illuzi, the Assistant D.A., acknowledged that given that Amy Cooper "had already given a physical description of Mr. Cooper and the police could have easily found him before they spoke further to the defendant. The police would have been in a position where they thought that Mr. Cooper had tried to assault the defendant. Certainly, he would have been held and held forcibly if he resisted... The simple principle is that one cannot use the police to threaten another and in this case, in a racially offensive and charged manner."
However, the D.A.'s office said they decided to explore restorative justice, with Manhattan Justice Opportunities, which sent Amy Cooper to the Critical Therapy Center.
"They provided psychoeducation and therapy services which focused on the ways in which Ms. Cooper could appreciate that racial identities shape our lives but we cannot use them to harm ourselves or others," Illuzi explained. "Psychoeducation about racial equity is woven into each therapy session to prompt understanding and reflection."
The therapist said that it was a "moving experience" and that Amy Cooper "learned a lot in their sessions together," according to Illuzi, who then moved to dismiss the charges.
While some victims and victims' families participate in the restorative justice process, Christian Cooper did not. He told the NY Times in an interview last year, after Amy Cooper lost her job and temporarily lost custody of her dog, "Any of us can make — not necessarily a racist mistake, but a mistake. And to get that kind of tidal wave in such a compressed period of time, it’s got to hurt. It’s got to hurt... I’m not excusing the racism. But I don’t know if her life needed to be torn apart."
The judge granted the prosecution's order to dismiss.
Amy Cooper's lawyer, Robert Barnes, wrote on Twitter, "After a thorough & honest inquiry, the New York DA's office dismissed all charges today against #AmyCooper. We thank them for their integrity & concur w/ the outcome. Others rushed to the wrong conclusion based on inadequate investigation & they may yet face legal consequences."
A spokeswoman for Barnes would not explain to the Daily News who might face legal consequence but did say, "Amy’s story will be released in the coming days."
Tagged
amy cooper
racial bias
christian cooper
central park
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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