Man sues Bridgeport police, city for mistaken arrests
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) — A Connecticut man is suing the city of Bridgeport and its police department after he was arrested three times and was detained in a repeated case of mistaken identity.
The Connecticut Post reports Pedro Martinez filed the suit Tuesday in Bridgeport federal court following numerous run-ins with police officers who mistook him for another Pedro Martinez wanted in Texas.
The lawsuit states that after Martinez's third arrest in August 2015, Bridgeport officers refused to compare his fingerprints with the Texas Martinez and kept him in custody. Martinez was arraigned on criminal charges but was later released by a Superior Court judge because his fingerprints didn't match the wanted man.
Attorney Robert Berke says the illegal detainment violated his client's civil rights.
Bridgeport officials declined to comment.
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