[Steeltrap]

Originally posted by treblk
(AP) Rap artist Ice Cube poses for a portrait on Sept. 5, 2002 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
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CHICAGO (AP) - The Chicago Police Department has apologized for issuing a community alert that described a man suspected in a series of sexual assaults as resembling hip-hop artist and actor Ice Cube after a local television station aired one of the rapper's videos during its evening newscast.

Police are searching for a man who sexually assaulted three woman in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood, a trendy area on the city's North Side.

A police alert released Sunday described the man as a black male in his mid-20s who "resembles the popular rap artist 'Ice Cube.'"

The Chicago TV station owned and operated by CBS, WBBM-TV, subsequently broadcast one of Ice Cube's videos when it reported the story Monday night.


"We acknowledged the information should not have been on the alert," Police spokesman David Bayless said Tuesday. "We took immediate corrective action. We apologize to Ice Cube for what was an honest mistake and came with no ill intent."

The community alert was reissued without a reference to Ice Cube.

Filming had begun Monday on "Barbershop 2," a sequel to the popular movie starring the Compton, Calif., native, said Matt Labov, a spokesman for Ice Cube.

Labov said cast members were watching as WBBM-TV broadcast the video.

"This is an unfortunate and hurtful situation for Ice Cube," Labov said. "That his good name ever came up in association with the events currently taking place in Chicago's Wicker Park area is damaging to Ice Cube as a father, husband and artist."

Both the police department and the TV station have since apologized, Labov said.

Elizabeth Shapiro, communications director for Channel 2, acknowledged that the station used the video.

"Chicago police had issued a community alert saying a suspect in a string of crimes in Wicker Park resembled rap artist Ice Cube," she said. "So our information was taken directly from the Chicago Police Department community alert

Completely stupid isht, on everyone's part. The TV station (I'm embarrassed to be a reporter) and the police department. Since Ice Cube is a public figure, however, he couldn't sue for libel. A judge would throw it out.