Man Wrongly Jailed Twice After Name Mix-Up, Sparks Outrage
Break10 Web Desk: In a pathetic display of bureaucratic error, a man in Western Australia was wrongfully arrested and jailed twice because of a typographical mistake. The incidents have drawn sharp criticism from the state’s Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC), highlighting serious lapses in police procedures.
The ordeal began in January 2023 when the man, named Marc Smith, called emergency services fearing for his safety because of a dispute over a boat. Another individual, almost at the same time, reported a boat theft. An emergency dispatcher misspelled Marc’s name as Mark, inadvertently linking him to an outstanding warrant for a different individual with the same name.
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Responding officers failed to verify Marc’s identity or cross-check his address. Despite Marc pointing out the incorrect spelling, he was arrested on suspicion of boat theft, possession of a stolen transit card, and the outstanding warrant. Fingerprints taken at the station did not match those on the warrant, but no further action was taken. Marc was denied bail and spent the night in custody. The following day, a magistrate identified the name mix-up and ordered his release.
Three months later, Marc visited the same police station seeking assistance, only to be arrested again. An officer once more entered the incorrect spelling into the system, leading to his second wrongful detention. Marc was released after further inquiries confirmed the mistake.
The CCC condemned the failures as deeply concerning, stating, “The gravity of this should have been considered appropriately from the start.” The commission emphasised that the incidents could have been avoided if officers had undertaken basic checks on the information provided.
