Readers React: What happens when the wrong guy is arrested

To the editor: Years ago as a young attorney, I represented a Mexican immigrant who had been arrested pursuant to a felony warrant issued in Los Angeles. He was held for several weeks and spoke no English. (“Mistaken ID case: Man was jailed despite being 9 inches taller than the wanted man,” Feb. 4)

He insisted he had not committed the crime, but his public defender, having heard that many times before, didn’t believe him. The warrant described a person with the same name and very similar physical attributes.

I became his attorney and discovered he was undocumented and feared being sent back to Mexico. For some reason, I believed him.

So I called the Los Angeles Police Department asking for the detective who had sought the warrant. I asked whether there was a photo of his suspect; he told me there was. I still remember how hard I had to work to convince him to go the county jail to see if the right guy had been arrested.

I must have pushed the right buttons. My client was released within a day or so.

I told him that he could sue for being wrongfully jailed for weeks. He thanked me and moved on with his life.

John O’Donnell, Los Angeles

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