"UNFORTUNATE"

Wyclef Jean Mistaken for Armed Robber

The Grammy winner says he was handcuffed, detained and “treated like a criminal.”

Musician Wyclef Jean received an apology from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s office on Tuesday after being mistaken for a robbery suspect. The incident occurred early Tuesday, when Jean says he was handcuffed and placed into the back of a patrol car in West Hollywood. “I was asked by the police to put my hands up. Then I was told, 'Do not move.' I was instantly hand cuffed before being asked to identify myself and before being told why,” Jean was cited as saying by the Associated Press. “In the process I said my name and told them they have wrong person. They proceeded to ignore me and I was treated like a criminal,” he said. Los Angeles Sheriff’s officials later issued a statement on the “unfortunate” incident, saying Jean matched the description of a robbery suspect in the vicinity. The suspect had reportedly pistol-whipped two people sitting in a nearby parking lot, and the victims’ description of the suspect’s vehicle and clothing matched Jean, police said. “It is unfortunate that Mr. Jean was detained for six minutes during this investigation, as he had no involvement whatsoever in this violent crime,” the statement said. “The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is apologetic for any inconvenience this process caused Mr. Jean. We are grateful we were able to apprehend the robbery suspects and that no one was seriously injured,” the statement said.