Washington (ANI): Chinese born American actress Bai Ling insists that her Feb 15 arrest at Los Angeles International Airport was due to a misunderstanding. The 37-year-old actress, who was en route to shoot her new film Love Ranch, says she had bought a toy in a gift shop at Los Angeles International Airport for a friend, and was trying to power up the toy while balancing text messages and phone calls.
"I went across the [hall] with the toy in my hand, and asked which battery would fit. They told me [they knew which would fit], but they had really long line and I had to make the flight," the New York Post quoted her as saying. Bai claimed store clerks asked if she could wait and she agreed, exiting to the side of the shop, continuing to call and text. The next thing she knew, she was being arrested for shoplifting.
"I literally walked to the side of the store, texting, talking. Then the police come. All the lights, and they took me. I had no intention to take," she said. Lucky for her, the DA agreed that she had no criminal intentions, and her charge was reduced to an infraction. "I was innocent, I was thinking, 'I'll do anything to make the flight, or I'll get fired from the production,'" she added. Thankfully she didn't miss the flight.
Ling could be charged as much as 250 dollars in fines for the infraction, with no blemish on her permanent record. She also confirmed that she'll remain in New Mexico shooting, and assumes her lawyer will be present at court on Wednesday at L.A.'s airport branch courthouse. "It was my first time in American jail, everyone was asking me what I was working on! Everyone stick their heads out to see what I'm doing next," Bai said about her experience with the U.S. justice system so far. "I hope everyone looks at the positive side of things, and I love my friends and fans for the support," she concluded.
"I went across the [hall] with the toy in my hand, and asked which battery would fit. They told me [they knew which would fit], but they had really long line and I had to make the flight," the New York Post quoted her as saying. Bai claimed store clerks asked if she could wait and she agreed, exiting to the side of the shop, continuing to call and text. The next thing she knew, she was being arrested for shoplifting.
"I literally walked to the side of the store, texting, talking. Then the police come. All the lights, and they took me. I had no intention to take," she said. Lucky for her, the DA agreed that she had no criminal intentions, and her charge was reduced to an infraction. "I was innocent, I was thinking, 'I'll do anything to make the flight, or I'll get fired from the production,'" she added. Thankfully she didn't miss the flight.
Ling could be charged as much as 250 dollars in fines for the infraction, with no blemish on her permanent record. She also confirmed that she'll remain in New Mexico shooting, and assumes her lawyer will be present at court on Wednesday at L.A.'s airport branch courthouse. "It was my first time in American jail, everyone was asking me what I was working on! Everyone stick their heads out to see what I'm doing next," Bai said about her experience with the U.S. justice system so far. "I hope everyone looks at the positive side of things, and I love my friends and fans for the support," she concluded.
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