Man Sues Over Listing on Police Web Site
A construction worker filed a federal lawsuit against the sheriff’s and police departments Monday, contending he was falsely arrested because of misinformation posted on the LAPD’s Internet Web site and in the sheriff’s automated warrant system.
Mark Gonzales, 35, was arrested and held for 11 hours on Jan. 11 until authorities realized he was not wanted for assault with a deadly weapon, according to his lawyer, Stephen Yagman.
Yagman said Gonzales was booked on suspicion of beating up his landlord a year ago but that the case was dismissed when the district attorney’s office declined to file charges.
Nevertheless, he said, Gonzales continued to be listed as a wanted man in both the sheriff’s automated warrant system and on the LAPD’s Web site (www.lapdonline.com).
The lawsuit seeks an injunction shutting down the LAPD Web site and ordering Sheriff Lee Baca to purge the automated warrants system of outdated and erroneous information.
As of late Monday, Gonzales’ photo was still on the LAPD Web site. The accompanying text indicated he was in custody.
The police and sheriff’s departments declined comment on the lawsuit, saying they do not discuss pending suits.
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