The case of Mitrice Richardson can be filed under “Malibu’s Most Mysterious.” According to the TODAY Show, the 24 year-old woman went missing after police let her go at 1:30 AM.
The story began when Mitrice drove to an upscale restaurant in Malibu, a good 40 miles from her home. The restaurant staff said she was behaving strangely, even sitting down and making conversation with a table of six. Jeff Peterson, the restaurant’s owner, said that “There was something a little strange about her. She wasn’t mentally ill, not ranting or raving. You couldn’t put your finger on it.”
Mitrice didn’t have money to pay the $89 bill, so she called her great-grandmother to help her try and pay the bill over the phone – but the restaurant couldn’t do that. Peterson said they called the sheriff’s department out of concern for her safety. When police arrived, they found marijuana in Mitrice’s car, so they arrested her for possession and not paying her bill. Then they took her 13 miles away to the Malibu/Lost Hills sheriff’s station.
Mitrice’s mother Latice Sutton said she called the sheriff’s department after Mitrice’s great-grandmother told her what happened and told them she would pick Mitrice up sometime after 4 am. She called back at 4:30 am to find out what her daughter’s bail was, but police said they had released Mitrice around 1:30 am. She hasn’t been seen since.
Her parents are furious that the police let her go in the middle of the night, so far from her car, with no money. What do you guys think?
Comments
Ben from Baltimore
September 26th, 2009 - 2:58:22 PM
This is the cops fault. Because Ms. Richardson isn't a Spears or a Lohan, she got the trashy treatment. Arnold needs to reprise his role as Robocop and go after the cops that mishandled this, fire the sheriff and the police chief, and then go look for the girl. Plus, John Walsh needs to get on this case.
Houston Reader
September 26th, 2009 - 9:57:47 PM
It is my understanding that Mitrice made multiple phone calls prior to walking away from the police/sheriff's station. She was released on her own recognizance from the misdemeanor charges. In the time between her arrest and ultimate release, she apparently did not appear to be mentally incompetent nor under the influence of drugs. On what basis would the police have forced a 24 year old woman to wait until her mama arrived particularly since Mitrice apparently did not call her mama? Mitrice could has stayed at/near the police station until she reached someone or someone arrived to pick her up. She opted to leave.
Kevin
September 27th, 2009 - 12:31:18 AM
BULLSHIT!!!!! THERE IS NO WAY THEY WOULD LET A TAYLOR SWIFT GO AT 1:25 A.M IN A REMOTE DARK AREA WITH NO MONEY, NO CAR, AND NO CELLPHONE. THOS COPS MUST PROVIDE THE VIDEO OF HER LEAVING THE STATION. WHERE IS THE FBI INVESTIGATION!!!!!!!!!!!!
parish t
October 6th, 2009 - 11:24:55 AM
that is exactly what im saying.. everytime i read this story i get more angry.. where is the video of her leaving the police station?? where is it?? she is a missing person and she needs to be found so where is the video.. i dont think the la police department wants her to be found or else they would release the video.. why are they refusing to help.. they should help in any way they can after all it is their fault.. they need to do something. like the guy above me said..WHERE IN THE HELL IS THE FBI ???
KANYE
October 6th, 2009 - 7:53:54 PM
Years ago I was pulled over on Pacific Coast Highway for a presumed traffic violation by the Malibu Police. An elderly woman had cut me off and I had to go around her to avoid hitting her and creating an accident. The malibu Police Officers witnessed this, pulled us over and let the elderly Malibu resident go. Upon being pulled over by the two officers they asked me to get out of my car and the moment they found out I was from the San Fernando Valley and not Malibu they put me through the ringer with the most elaborate balance and mobility tests in the world. Mind you, I had nothing to drink that evening, yet they rudely ordered me around and conducted these following tests while barking at me: oh yeah, and the two of them traded off as they conducted their "hazing": Recite the Alphabet a-z Recite the Alphabet z-a Hop on one foot and go forward Now Switch feet and hop in a circle until we say stop Put your hands behind your back, close your eyes and lean back Count forward using odd numbers and don't stop until we tell you Close your eyes and point your chin to the sky keep you head back and do not move your feet at all Keep your eyes on the eraser of my pencil as I move it around and try to make you dizzy Walk backwards for 100 feet through rubble on PCH and don't fall. What is 12X13? Upon passing all their mindless mobility tests. I was ordered back in my car and received a citation. As I was driving away from these Malibu redneck officers, I stopped at a stop light. They raced up behind me with their lights in full panic mode and pulled up next to me and they yelled angrily "Go back to the valley and stay out of Malibu!" At that time I was in my mid twenties, in college, drove a nice car, was dressed nicely, and was very respectful to these officers during the "hazing". The reason why I bore you all with this story is that I can only imagine what the Malibu Police potentially/allegedly put this poor women of color through when they picked her up. Malibu aledgedly hates and despises all non-locals and this poor woman most likely could have received similar or worse treatment. Shame on Geoffreys for caling the police on a mere $89.00 charge. SHAME ON THEM!I had eaten there in the late 80's and 90's and the food was lackluster, overpriced and overrated and everyone had some type of attitude including the creepy valet who was pushing his script. OHHH I AM A SCREENWRITER. NO YOU ARE NOT, YOU ARE A CAR PARKING VALET. I had sent food back numerous times due to many indicators. IS THIS WHAT HAPPENED? SHE DIDN"T AGREE WITH THE BILL AS SHE POTENTIALLY SENT FOOD BACK? Maybe/alledgedly the food made her sick potentially the fontina cheese. Maybe it potentially was the cheese that made her ill. If this is indeed what she consumed that evening. Who KNOWS? GEOFFREY"S KNOWS!. WhAT COULD SHE HAVE HAD THAT WAS $89.00? Hey Geoffrey's I ALLEDGE you are the ones to blame for this girls disappearance. Yes YOU! TAKE RESPONSIBILITY! If the young lady couldn't pay her bill, and was acting weird why wouldn't you un-talented nobody's call her family to come pick her up!? Just ask for her license. Let her wash dishes or send her a bill in the mail! YOU DON"T CALL THE POLICE ON CUSTOMERS BECAUSE THEY CAN"T PAY THEIR BILL. SHAME ON YOU GEOFFREYS! When I ate at your "dive" your card reader was having problems reading credit cards. MAYBE THIS IS WHY YOU DIDN"T GET PAID because you were too cheap to get a good card reader system and this poor woman couldn't pay because your card reader is as old as your stale menu and whispering waitstaff! Remind me not to go to you for help if I happen to be in the area and need it. THIS GIRL IS PROBABLY MISSING BECAUSE OF GEOFFREYS ALLEDGED INABILITY TO HANDLE THE SITUATION AT THEIR RESTARAUNT SHAME ON THEM!!SHAME ON GEOFFREY'S! I feel so badly for this poor woman and her family. Please pray for her safe retun home to her family and friends. I hope that the stupidity and ignorance and non caring of the people that had her arrested will be made known. SHAME ON THEM!!
Tracy
November 18th, 2009 - 12:05:12 PM
This girl was lesbo and didn't want to let her parents know. The mom is psycho so the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree!
Disgusted in Riverside
November 23rd, 2009 - 10:05:32 PM
People need to take responsiblity for themselves. This woman is just that, a WOMAN! She is grown. The police don't babysit adults. When you are arrested, even for something as small as not PAYing YOUR BILL (by the way, no one thinks that is wrong?), guess what...you get a phone call! Hello? The question should be..who did she call? She didn't call her mama! And if the person being released was a celeb, they would have been released at 0130 in the morning too, but they would have called someone responsible to come pick them up! Duh!