A Police officer involved in the much-publicised confrontation with Django Unchained actress Daniele Watts has defended his actions.
"She is lying," Los Angeles police sergeant Jim Parker told The Hollywood Reporter.
The police officer says Watts has been making "malicious and false statements" about the event, and he has his own recording to prove it.
On Thursday, Watts wrote a long Facebook post saying police had accused her of prostitution because she was seen being affectionate with her boyfriend, celebrity chef Brian James Lucas.
"Today I was handcuffed and detained by 2 police officers from the Studio City Police Department after refusing to agree that I had done something wrong by showing affection, fully clothed, in a public place," wrote Watts.
She says she knew she "wasn't harming anyone" so she walked away from the officer.
"A few minutes later, I was still talking to my dad when 2 different police officers accosted me and forced me into handcuffs, wrote Watts.
But the main officer involved says there is more to the story.
Parker says he was already in the area when he got a call complaining about a couple having sex in their car with the door open.
He was given a description of the scene which included the car make and licence plate, descriptions of what the couple were wearing and one witness even took a photograph.
"People don't make this s… up," said Parker.
Parker says he didn't plan on arresting the couple, and thought he'd be able to deal quickly with the complaint.
"I figured I could take care of this call and go get coffee and that was it," Parker told the LA Times, but said instead it turned into a "long, drawn-out drama."
"I was trying to ID them and leave – nobody wanted them arrested for having sex in public," said Parker. "But then she went into her tirade."
Parker says Lucas handed over his ID but Watts was less than cooperative.
"[Lucas] said, 'Oh I have her passport.' He was wearing two tourist bags around his neck and I assumed he had hers. She was feigning disinterest, but I could tell she was listening in," Parker told The Hollywood Reporter.
"Then as you hear on the recording, she starts making a fuss, and quite frankly I don't need to see her ID but she does have to ID herself."
In the recording, released by TMZ and authenticated by police, Parker says, "Somebody called, which gives me the right to be here, so it gives me the right to identify you by law."
Watts replies, "Do you know how many times the cops have been called because I'm black? Just because I'm black and he's white? I'm just being really honest, sir."
"Who brought up the race card?" Parker responded.
"I'm bringing it up," said Watts.
"I said nothing about you being black," the sergeant responded.
She later tells the police sergeant he can say she's resisting arrest, because she has every right to 'make out' with her boyfriend.
"There's no resisting, you're just interfering," says Parker.
Watts also played the fame card in her exchange with the police officer.
"And you know what, I have a publicist, and I work as an actress in that studio, OK?" Watts can be heard saying in the recording.
"I'm mildly interested that you have a publicist, but I am gonna get your ID," says Parker.
At one point Parker says to Lucas, "I would already be gone, by the way; I've got your licence. I would already be gone."
Parker says after the actress walked away, he called a female officer to bring her back. Watts was reportedly being difficult, so the officers put her in handcuffs.
When the actress was brought back to the scene, Parker says he asked for her ID again.
"She had no idea I was recording. So I asked her, 'Why are you in handcuffs? [Lucas has] been here this whole time not in handcuffs. Tell me if someone has been disrespectful,'" said Parker.
Parker says police are allowed to record without consent, and it helps their investigations – in this instance, Parker says it proves police did nothing wrong.
Watts and Lucas have not commented since the recordings were released, but Watts spoke to CNN on Monday and stood by her refusal to hand over her ID.
"I still feel strongly like I didn't have to," Watts said. "I feel that it raises awareness. I'm thankful for the experience. Not to say that I feel like I have to go through it again. But it's causing a lot of discussion."
