Mike Higdon

mhigdon@rgj.com

Updated Thursday at 3:45 p.m.

Reno Police detective Lt. Zach Thew said the woman from a video showing actor Elijah Lewis being screamed at and called racial slurs was identified and provided a statement to police. He said they received numerous calls from the community identifying the woman, but will not confirm her identity nor release her statement during their open investigation.

The police forwarded evidence to the Reno City Attorney's Office for review and will continue to independently investigate the entire incident not shown by the Facebook video, he said. They are asking for any witnesses to come forward to provide additional perspectives.

The city attorney will need to review the evidence and decide whether or not to file charges against the woman.

Thursday morning update:

The Facebook video including Elijah Lewis' commentary on the incident has been taken down. A different video of the incident has been posted on his professional page and can be found here.

Original Story

Reno police are investigating an incident in downtown Reno after Elijah Lewis, an actor in "Motown: The Musical," posted a video on Facebook showing a woman calling him racial slurs.

Lewis says in the video that the woman struck him, trying to knock the phone out of his hand.

Lewis filed a police complaint after the incident, and Reno police are looking for witnesses or others who recognize the woman.

A representative for Jam Theatricals, Lewis' company, said he was unavailable for comment.

"He wants to focus on giving the audience the best performance possible and continue spreading the Motown message of unity, hope and healing to all," Brian Vogler, vice president of Marketing for Jam Theatricals, wrote in an email.

The video starts with Lewis describing the incident where he said he was "physically and verbally assaulted in broad daylight" when he went out for lunch. Lewis then cuts to the moment he started recording the incident with his cellphone following what he said was the initial assault.

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In the video, the woman is seen calling him racial slurs, cursing at him and what appears to be her trying to knock his phone out of his hand. She then walks down a separate path, continuing to curse at him and he continues to record. She then walks back toward him, yelling. The recording stops and cuts back to Lewis describing the incident.

"I was searching for someone to help and of course everyone going about their day and not thinking anything of it," he said in the video.

Lewis said in the video that she jumped on his back and continued hitting him and following him through the streets. The video did not show that part of his allegation.

"People in this world are just not nice, period," he said in the video. "And it's proven every day.

"Today was really, really an eye opener. It's not a coincidence that I'm doing the show called 'Motown' and going around the world telling this story."

Lewis performed last night after the alleged assault, said Dennyse Sewell, managing director for the Pioneer Center for Performing Arts, where the show is playing through Sunday. Sewell said she is waiting to hear what the production company wants to do about the situation before making any statements.

"The City of Reno does not condone the behavior that is demonstrated in the video that was posted earlier today on Facebook by a “Motown the Musical” performer who is visiting Reno," according to the Reno Government Facebook page. "The City of Reno embraces diversity and welcomes visitors."

At Wednesday's Reno City Council Mayor Hillary Schieve also made a comment about the video:

"I was incredibly disturbed; I just want to make it very clear the city will not tolerate hate and also we need to spread more love and kindness among each other. 'Motown: The Musical' is in town and I urge you to go and see it and see this wonderful performer named Elijah."

Bob Fulkerson, state director of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, said the video shows a clear "act of personal racism based on skin color."

"It’s no secret that since the election of President Trump, hate-motivated violence and harassment of people of color has dramatically increased,” he said.

Fulkerson said that, anecdotally, he has heard more locals experience this harassment. Hate crimes and harassment have increased since the election, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, Ala.

Reno police spokesperson said they have not seen an increase in harassment reports of this kind and that it is unusual.

“But the 10,000 people in the streets Saturday and thousands of people supporting him on Facebook shows that’s not what the community is about," Fulkerson said. "We just gotta band together and put an end to this kind of racist behavior.”

Detective Lt. Zach Thew has been assigned to finding and identifying the woman. Anyone with information is asked to contact the detective division at 775-334-2115 or Secret Witness at 775-322-4900.

This story will be updated when more information becomes available.