Amy Cooper charged after allegedly filing false police report against bird watcher Christian Cooper

A New York woman, caught on video allegedly making a false police report against a man who told her to leash her dog, has been charged.

A US woman has been charged after calling the police on an African-American man who asked her to leash her dog.

On May 25, Amy Cooper was filmed in the New York City park, calling the police on Christian Cooper because he asked her to restrain her dog, The Sun reports.

On Monday, the Manhattan District Attorney announced that Ms Cooper — dubbed “Central Park Karen” — will face misdemeanour charges for allegedly telling police the man was threatening her life.

She will be charged with filing a false report, which is a misdemeanour punishable by up to a year in jail, reported The New York Times.

“Today our office initiated a prosecution of Amy Cooper for falsely reporting an incident in the third degree,” Cyrus R. Vance, the Manhattan District Attorney said.

“We are strongly committed to holding perpetrators of this conduct accountable.”

Amy Cooper in Central Park. Picture: Christian Cooper

Ms Cooper will be arraigned on October 14 and if she’s convicted, she could get a conditional discharge or even be sentenced to community service or counselling instead of jail time.

The incident occurred on May 25, when birdwatcher Christian Cooper, 57, had asked the 41-year-old to put her dog on a lead in a wild part of the park named the Ramble.

He said it was required by law in the protected wildlife area commonly used by birdwatchers, but Ms Cooper refused.

The pair – who aren’t related – then got into an argument when the birdwatcher tried to lure Ms Cooper’s dog away from the trail with treats.

Things escalated when Ms Cooper told him that she would tell the police an African-American man was threatening her life – but Mr Cooper made sure he caught the entire outburst on film.

During the phone call, she can be heard saying: “I’m in the Ramble, there is a man, African-American, he has a bicycle helmet and he is recording me and threatening me and my dog.

“I am being threatened by a man in the Ramble, please send the cops immediately!”

Christian Cooper simply asked Ms Cooper to leash her dog. Picture: Facebook

Since the video went viral, Ms Cooper, who was dubbed “Central Park Karen” on social media, said her “life is being destroyed”.

She was forced to return her dog Henry to the rescue group where she got him but they have since been reunited, The New York Times noted.

Ms Cooper also lost her job at Franklin Templeton, where she was the head of an insurance portfolio.

After the clip went viral, Ms Cooper apologised.

“I sincerely and humbly apologise to everyone, especially to that man, his family.

“It was unacceptable and I humbly and fully apologise to everyone who’s seen that video, everyone that’s been offended. Everyone who thinks of me in a lower light and I understand why they do.”

She told CNN she wanted to “publicly apologise to everyone”.

“I‘m not a racist. I did not mean to harm that man in any way,” she said.

“I think I was just scared,” Amy said. ”When you’re alone in the Ramble, you don’t know what’s happening. It’s not excusable, it’s not defensible.”

Ms Cooper said that because of the viral clip, her “entire life … was destroyed”.

Her employer, Franklin Templeton, initially said she was put on administration leave before being fired.

“Following our internal review of the incident in Central Park yesterday, we have made the decision to terminate the employee involved, effective immediately. We do not tolerate racism of any kind at Franklin Templeton.”

Following our internal review of the incident in Central Park yesterday, we have made the decision to terminate the employee involved, effective immediately. We do not tolerate racism of any kind at Franklin Templeton.

— Franklin Templeton (@FTI_US) May 26, 2020

In the clip, Ms Cooper could be seen forcefully holding her dog by the collar.

Viewers of the video contacted Abandoned Angels Cocker Spaniel Rescue, where Ms Cooper adopted the dog and the rescue centre confirmed the dog was returned.

“Our mission remains the health and safety of our rescued dogs,” the rescue said.

“The dog is now in our rescue’s care and he is safe and in good health.”

Mr Cooper claimed in a Facebook post that Ms Cooper reasoned that she went to the Ramble since the park’s dog runs are closed and her pet “needs his exercise”.

According to NYC Parks: “Dogs must be on a leash … at all times, except in dog runs and designated off-leash areas at the prescribed times.”

Amy Cooper calling the police. Picture: Christian Cooper

Mr Cooper told WNBC-TV: “If the habitat is destroyed we won’t be able to go there to see the birds, to enjoy the plantings.

“The only way they can keep the dog from eating the treat is to put it on a leash,” he said, referring to the moment he offered Ms Cooper’s dog a treat.

Mr Cooper said he keeps dog treats with him to get dog owners to put their pets on leashes.

He said dog owners, in his experience, hate when strangers give their dogs treats and restrain or leash them immediately.

But Mr Cooper added Ms Cooper, “decided ‘I’m gonna play the race card,’ I guess”.

The NYPD confirmed a call came at around 8am on May 25, but no report was filed and no arrests were made after the incident.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and has been republished here with permission.