by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman
January 25, 2024
Her bail was set for $10,000.
Roda Osman, the woman who went viral on social media after a man allegedly threw a brick at her for refusing to give him her phone number, posted bail of $10,000 on Jan. 23. Osman was arrested five days prior on felony charges after Houston authorities accused her of falsifying her story.
Officials have accused Osman of manipulating the truth after video evidence revealed her getting into an altercation with the man in Southwest Houston. According to court documents obtained by Fox 26, Osman was seen on the surveillance video hitting the man, who then hit her back with an item resembling a water bottle.
In September 2023, Osman’s account of what happened made rounds on social media, as a video of her explaining the ordeal from her hospital room sparked an outcry. After a GoFundMe page was made for her to receive monetary support, the 33-year-old collected over $42,000 from the campaign.
However, the new footage shared with officials reveals another side to the story, showcasing a prior incident to the alleged brick-throwing that contradicts Osman’s original story of being hit by a random man. After the arrest warrant was issued, the Ph.D. student failed to appear, though she was reported to have planned to turn herself in.
Further investigation also revealed a potential pattern of embellishing incidents to receive public support and monetary help. In 2020, Osman was accused of lying about an assault in Minneapolis, which also resulted in a GoFundMe fundraiser. No legal action was taken in that incident.
As for the alleged false claims of brick-throwing, Osman was released after posting bail but is due back in court on March 5. She is facing felony theft by deception charges but has yet to share a public statement giving updates on the matter.
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