A case of mistaken identity led DeKalb County police to arrest a man they thought was a fugitive on the U.S. Marshals’ wanted list.
Brandon Lee Williams, 23, ran out of gas on Clairmont Road and was walking to a gas station when he saw blue lights, according to Channel 2 Action News. The incident happened Dec. 8.
Williams said he told police the situation, but when officers asked for his license and ran a check they told him he was wanted in Virginia for cocaine possession.
“I said, 'My name is Brandon Lee Williams.' I gave him my full name and my social,” Williams said hoping to clear the situation at the scene.
Wrongful arrest: DeKalb authorities jailed this young man, thinking he was fugitive. They had the wrong Brandon Williams. Story-@wsbtv at 6. pic.twitter.com/znsXIEkWMz
— Nicole Carr (@NicoleCarrWSB) December 28, 2016
Instead, he was fingerprinted, booked and had his car impounded. Williams stayed in jail overnight.
According to Channel 2, Williams said he was released with no explanation about how the mix-up occurred.
“Basically they ran my information and said, ‘This is not you. You can go.' And I'm like, ‘Wow.’ Like, that's not explaining like what happened, you know?” he said.
DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Cynthia Williams said the U.S. Marshals service sent police a memo saying Brandon Williams was not the correct suspect.
Channel 2 reached out to the U.S. Marshals service in Virginia but was unable to obtain a photo of the real fugitive since he is no longer wanted and was arrested in another state.
“(Brandon Lee) Williams’ release took place within a time frame that was considered normal given the volume of releases being processed at the same time,” the spokeswoman said.
The night in jail not only cost Brandon Williams time, but also money.
He told Channel 2 he missed work and had to spend a few hundred dollars to get his car out of impound.
“I’m just trying to find some answers,” he said.
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