Woman Claims Cops Falsely Accused Her in Tense Confrontation Caught on Tape

A woman claiming she was falsely accused of graffiti and trespassing was caught in a tense confrontation with cops in a viral TikTok video.

The nearly two-minute dispute was shared by user @slvt4csh, who goes by Kitty Coco online. Her video has amassed nearly 300,000 views since Wednesday.

In the clip, a male and female officer asked to look in Kitty's bag. Based on their badges, the man appeared to work for the Burien Police Department in Burien, Washington, while the woman appeared to work for the King County Sheriff's Office. Behind them was a Burien Police Department car.

"Do you see any paint?" Kitty asked the officers while they peered into her purse. She repeated the question with mounting anger. "You guys just said I was painting on a wall and I haven't been painting on anything. I just said I'm leaving."

The female officer told her there was "no reason to get upset," but Kitty just grew more heated, repeating that she had been falsely accused of graffiti.

After rifling through her purse, the female deputy handed it back to Kitty, apparently without uncovering graffiti paint.

While Kitty continued to demand if she saw any paint, the officer said, "You cannot come back here for one year. Do you want a copy of the trespass letter?"

"Did you see any paint?" Kitty kept furiously asking. "So there's no apology? There's no apology? You guys just accused me of painting on the wall...and I have it on camera."

Newsweek reached out to Kitty and the Burien Police Department for comment.

Washington state classifies graffiti as "malicious mischief." The crime can result in fines of $1,000 and at least 90 days in jail. If the graffiti damages a property valued at more than $250 then it can become a felony offense, according to Lewis & Laws, PLLC.

Trespassing in the state is charged as a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor. The first is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine and the second by up to 1 year in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Many viewers of Kitty's clip were enraged on her behalf, saying the officers violated her rights and urging her to protect herself.

"File a complaint, get a lawyer, and sue," fumed one comment. "You broke no law and they are threatening to arrest you if you walk freely in the area."

"Don't ever let them search you or answer any questions...they are definitely fishing and trying to pin something on you," advised another.

A few viewers were more critical of the woman and accused her of escalation.

"These officers were nothing but calm. Seemed like you were trying to escalate the situation," said one commenter.

"I never understood yelling and being hostile in these moments," another agreed. "If you didn't do anything, be calm and explain then call their supervisor after."

This is not the first instance of civilians alleging misconduct by police. Last month, a Syracuse man took a video of police officers allegedly detaining an 8-year-old boy over a stolen bag of chips.

Following the New York City subway shooting on April 12, some citizens took to social media to complain about NYPD officers harassing innocent New Yorkers during the 30-hour manhunt to apprehend suspect Frank James.