Woman Who Called Cops On Black Birdwatcher Faces Charges: DA

CENTRAL PARK, NY — A white woman's who called police on a Black birdwatcher who asked her to leash her dog in the Central Park Ramble will face charges, Manhattan prosecutors announced Monday.

Amy Cooper will be charged with falsely reporting an incident in the third degree, a misdemeanor, for calling police on Christian Cooper on Memorial Day, Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance said. Class A misdemeanors are punishable by up to one year in prison or three years probation as well as enforcement of a fine up to $1,000.

"Today our Office initiated a prosecution of Amy Cooper for Falsely Reporting an Incident in the Third Degree. Our office will provide the public with additional information as the case proceeds. At this time I would like to encourage anyone who has been the target of false reporting to contact our Office. We are strongly committed to holding perpetrators of this conduct accountable," Vance said in a statement.

Video of Cooper calling police went viral after being posted on Memorial Day by Christian Cooper's sister. The video shows the birdwatcher remain calm as the woman frantically calls the police and claims that she is in danger. At the beginning of the video, Christian Cooper tells Amy Cooper not to approach him and says "please call the cops" and "tell them whatever you like" after an initial threat to do so.

"I'm in the Ramble and there's a man — African-American — he has a bicycle helmet. He's recording me and threatening me and my dog," Amy Cooper says after calling the police.

"I'm being threatened by a man in the Ramble, please send the cops immediately," Cooper continues in a distressed voice.

Backlash came quickly for Cooper, who was accused of weaponizing her whiteness against Christian Cooper for asking her to simply follow park rules. Amy Cooper lost her high-powered investment job despite issuing a public apology on national news. Cooper was also forced to surrender her dog, but was eventually reunited with the pet after an animal rescue group found the Cocker Spaniel to be in good health.

The New York State Senate also passed a bill, citing Cooper as inspiration, that allows the victims of false reporting on the basis of biases such as gender, religion or sexual orientation to sue their accusers in civil court.