GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. (AP) — A sheriff in northeast Florida is publicly apologizing to a teen who spent 35 days in jail after an arrest mix-up.
Authorities say a deputy’s failure to confirm his suspect’s identity with a photo led to the arrest of the wrong high school student. The teen was charged as an adult in a sexual battery case. The mistake was not discovered until he received court documents detailing the charge.
Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler said Tuesday that the deputy has a good track record but took short-cuts in the investigation last year. The deputy was suspended and transferred to patrol.
Beseler told The Florida Times-Union that he will “seek to make things right” for the teen.
The teen has told the sheriff’s office that he intends to sue.
Source: Associated Press
