It turns out the white man who falsely accused a Black woman of stealing a ring at a Northern California gym has a criminal past of his own—including an arrest for felony burglary.
Sydney LaDay, 33, a real estate agent and interior designer, visited HOTWORX gym in Belmont on February 10 with a friend. The next day, gym manager Neal Lundy III accused her via text of stealing a ring and claimed to have video evidence. However, the ring’s owner later found it at home, proving LaDay’s innocence.
“You have until 7 p.m. today to return the ring, or else,” Lundy texted LaDay, even referencing the felony threshold for theft, possibly speaking from personal experience.
Lundy’s Burglary Arrest and Criminal Record
In January 2016, Lundy was arrested for breaking into three homes in affluent areas of San Mateo County. While court records of his burglary case have since been expunged, his history remains documented in police press releases and past news articles.
Records also show Lundy was arrested in November 2015 for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, but that case was later dismissed under a plea deal.
Lundy’s Father Defends His Son
Lundy’s father, Neal Lundy Jr., who owns the HOTWORX gym, defended his son, stating, “He made mistakes when he was young but has turned his life around.”
Despite these claims, LaDay’s experience with Lundy went viral on TikTok, exposing yet another instance of racial profiling and false accusations.
