BREAKING: ‘Central Park Karen’ faces criminal charges for calling police on black birdwatcher

As announced by the Manhattan district attorney on Monday, Amy Cooper will be charged with filing a false report, which is a misdemeanour punishable by up to a year jail.

"Today our office initiated a prosecution of Amy Cooper for falsely reporting an incident in the third degree," said Cyrus R. Vance, the Manhattan district attorney. "We are strongly committed to holding perpetrators of this conduct accountable."

Cooper's 911 call was shot by the birdwatcher and soon went viral. The video showed her exchange with a black man who was birdwatching after he asked her to put her leash her dog in Central Park, and allegedly said he would lure the dog away from its owner with treats.

She threatened to call the NYPD, and then did so, saying her life was in danger. She has been issued a desk appearance ticket and will be arraigned on October 14. She may be given community service and counselling in lieu of jail time.

Christian Cooper, the birdwatcher, recorded his interaction with Amy Cooper, as well as her call with NYPD.

She said "I’m in the Ramble, there is a man, African-American, he has a bicycle helmet and he is recording me and threatening me and my dog." She added "I am being threatened by a man in the Ramble, please send the cops immediately! Thank you."

Amy Cooper then put her dog on a leash and left the park.

Her attorney has stated that "she will be found not guilty of this misdemeanor charge."

"I reacted emotionally and made false assumptions about his intentions when, in fact, I was the one who was acting inappropriately by not having my dog on a leash," said Amy Cooper in a statement that followed the aftermath of the events.

Amy Cooper lost her job, and the pet adoption agency where she got her dog rescinded the adoption.