News Anchor Lu Parker Accused Of Stealing Headphones From Off-Duty Detective At LAX
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Los Angeles news anchor Lu Parker was arrested Wednesday for allegedly stealing a pair of headphones from a passenger-screening area at Los Angeles International Airport.
Frances Louise Parker, 48, was taken into custody shortly after 7 a.m., according to the Los Angeles Airport Police Department.
Parker -- the 1994 Miss USA pageant winner -- is accused of taking a pair of $200 headphones from a TSA screening area in Terminal 6 and then walking to her gate and boarding her flight.
The headphones were owned by an off-duty LAPD robbery-homicide detective, who made the arrest.
Lu was escorted off the plane and taken to the Los Angeles Police Department Pacific Station, where she was booked on suspicion of petty theft.
"The suspect was located, the property was recovered and the victim executed a private person's arrest," Los Angeles Airport Police Officer Rob Pedregon said.
Parker is a midday news anchor on KTLA and previously dated then-Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
A KTLA spokesperson said the arrest was a misunderstanding, saying Parker noticed the earbuds were left behind and picked them up with the intention of returning them to their owner.
The statement added that Parker had been speaking with the owner of the headphones while in the security line. Parker boarded the flight after she was unable to find the owner, the statement said.
"We believe this is a misunderstanding," the statement said. "Lu is cooperating fully with the authorities and we are confident she will be able to clear this all up."
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