Originally published by Canyon News on in their physical newspaper.
WEST HOLLYWOOD— KTLA news anchor and Emmy and Genesis Award winning journalist, Frances Lu Parker, 48, was arrested on Wednesday, November 2 for suspected theft at Los Angeles Inter- national Airport. The West Hollywood resident works for KTLA5 News at 1 and 3. She is also a former Miss USA pageant winner and had previously dated former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
According to reports, Lu Parker was arrested on suspicion of theft during the TSA screening after a passenger accused her of taking headphones. TMZ reported that the headphones were valued at about $200. The incident took place around 7 a.m. after a passenger noticed a personal belonging was missing. The Los Angeles Times also reported that there was security video of the incident.
“Earlier today Lu Parker was traveling to tend to her father who is ill. After go- ing through the security line at LAX, Lu noticed earbuds were left behind.
She picked them up in- tending to return them to the owner whom she had been speaking with while in line to clear TSA. We believe this is a misunderstanding, Lu is cooperating fully with the authorities and we are confident she will be able to clear this all up.” said KTLA in a statement released on Wednesday.
Reports also indicate that the headphones belonged to a Los Angeles Police Department Robbery- Homicide detective. Park- er was taken off the plane after the incident.
Cori Bratby-Rudd 