Permit Patty: CA Woman Says She's Been Getting Death Threats

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- A California woman, who has become the target of social media criticism after she reportedly called police on a black 8-year-old girl selling water, said she is now receiving death threats over the encounter she ultimately regrets. Alison Ettel told NBC she never called the police on the young girl despite what the girl's mother said.

In a video posted on Instagram by the girl's mother, Erin Austin, Austin said "This woman don't want a little girl selling water."

Ettel, who is on the phone, is heard saying "Yeah, illegally selling water without a permit."

Ettel told NBC she never called the police. The San Francisco Police Department confirmed to the media that it didn't receive a call related to anyone illegally selling water.

But, the damage had already been done as the Instagram video went viral on different social media outlets with users criticizing Ettel for being racist as the girl is black.

"Why in the world did they make this into a racial issue?" Ettel told NBC.

The criticism led to people publicly identifying her as the owner of TreatWell, a cannabis company for pets, which led to other businesses cutting ties with Ettel. Ettel said her personal information, such as her address, has also been made public.

However, members of the public didn't buy her claim that it wasn't a racial issue. One woman told NBC her Chinese-American son was selling water about 20 feet away from Austin's daughter, but no one threatened to call the police.

"If you had look Chinese, you would have been stopped," the woman said. "It's because you looked white. Children of color (have) it very hard. It's not fair."

Meanwhile, people are rallying around Austin's daughter, Jordan, who was raising money to buy tickets to Disneyland. A stranger purchased Jordan four tickets to the theme park, while others have sought to reach the girl to buy water.

--Photo via Shutterstock

Also See:

San Francisco Woman Allegedly Angered Over Child Selling Water