Denver wants case against Marlon Wayans stemming from luggage dispute dismissed
CTV
Denver prosecutors asked a judge on Friday to dismiss a case against Marlon Wayans stemming from a luggage dispute with an airline employee who the actor and comedian said targeted him because of his race.
Denver prosecutors asked a judge on Friday to dismiss a case against Marlon Wayans stemming from a luggage dispute with an airline employee who the actor and comedian said targeted him because of his race.
The city attorney's office's request comes a day after Wayans, who is Black, asked for the case to be dismissed and accused prosecutors of perpetuating the discrimination he faced by continuing with the case. Assistant City Attorney Katie Conner did not directly explain why prosecutors wanted the case dismissed, but she suggested that information gathered by Wayans' lawyers about white passengers being allowed to violate United Airlines' luggage limit played a role.
One of Wayans' lawyers, David M. Beller, said a judge has granted the request. He applauded the city's decision.
"Our community does not need one more innocent Black man wrongfully accused and wrongfully convicted," Beller said. "I hope this inspires everyone to be more aware of their own implicit and explicit bias."
A spokesperson for the city attorney's office did not return an email seeking comment.
Wayans was cited for disturbing the peace, a municipal violation, in June, police said.
According to Wayans' motion to dismiss the case, a United Airlines gate agent told him he could not get on a flight to Kansas City with three bags. The gate agent tried to physically block Wayans from getting on the flight after he consolidated his luggage into two bags to conform with airline policy, according to the filing. Wayans boarded anyway and was later asked to get off the plane before it departed.
