Family of Black teen falsely accused of stealing woman's phone sues his accuser

The family of a Black teenager who was falsely accused of stealing a woman's cellphone at a New York City hotel is suing his accuser and the hotel where the incident occurred. Miya Ponsetto, 22, is also facing criminal charges in the case.

On December 26, 2020, Ponsetto falsely accused 14-year-old Keyon Harrold Jr. in the lobby of Manhattan's Arlo Hotel. The teen's father recorded the incident on his cellphone. The cellphone and surveillance video from the hotel appear to show Ponsetto physically attacking Harrold Jr. in an attempt to get her phone back. Her phone was returned soon afterward by an Uber driver who found it in their vehicle. Ponsetto, the Arlo Hotel and Chad Nathan, a manager at the hotel, are among the defendants listed in the lawsuit, which alleges that Ponsetto and Nathan engaged in racial profiling and accuses the hotel of negligence.