A woman caught in a viral video falsely accusing a black teenager of stealing her cell phone in a New York hotel has been arrested in Ventura County.
Video of last month’s incident drew national attention. In the video, you see the woman screaming at the teen, and accusing her of taking her phone.
The phone was later found in an Uber.
The teen’s father, jazz musician Keyon Harrold, caught the incident on video. Many cited it as a new example of racism, because the woman appears to be white.
Ventura County Sheriff’s deputies and New York Police arrested Miya Ponsetto near her home in Piru Thursday. She was pulled over while driving. Deputies say she resisted, and had to be pulled from her vehicle.
In a television interview, the attorney for the 22-year-old woman said Ponsetto was mentally unwell, and also sorry about the incident. She claimed it wasn’t racism, noting the Ponsetto isn’t white, and identifies as being of Puerto Rican and Vietnamese descent. It’s unclear what charges she may face.
