Woman who accused Black teen of stealing phone at NYC hotel arrested in California

A mug shot of 22-year-old Miya Ponsetto was released by Ventura County Sheriff's Department in California. She is being held without bail on a fugitive warrant.

News 12 Staff

Jan 9, 2021, 1:08 AM

Updated 1,433 days ago

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The woman accused of attacking a Black teenager and falsely accusing him of stealing her phone in December was taken into police custody.
A mug shot of 22-year-old Miya Ponsetto was released by Ventura County Sheriff's Department in California. She is being held without bail on a fugitive warrant.
Sheriff deputies say they tried to pull her over near her home in California, but she didn't stop until she got to her home and then refused to get out of the car. Deputies say they had to forcibly remove her from that car.
Police say Ponsetto is the woman seen in a video screaming at 14-year-old Keyon Harrold Jr. inside a SoHo hotel and accusing him of stealing her phone on Dec. 26.
Her phone was later found in an Uber. Police released surveillance video that shows who they say is Ponsetto tackling the teen and scratching his father.
Last week, the teen's family along with supporters rallied outside of City Hall, calling for justice and for the hotel to be held accountable. They say the manager of the Arlo Hotel sided with the woman at the time and asked the teenager to hand over his phone.
The hotel put out a statement apologizing to Harrold’s family, saying they're committed to making sure this never happens again.
Harrold’s family issued a statement in response to the arrest, saying in part, "We are not interested in what she has to say, in her feigning remorse, and we certainly will not provide her a public platform and audience to do as much. Our energy right now is directed at the healing of our son, and in bringing attention to the larger societal issues that led to the disgusting physical and verbal attack that continues to traumatize our family."
An attorney for Ponsetto told the Associated Press that their client was "emotionally unwell."