I Was Arrested for a Crime but the Police Got the Wrong Person

 Posted on April 03, 2025 in Criminal Defense

Being arrested for a crime you did not commit can be a horrible experience. Unfortunately, mistaken identity arrests happen more often than many people realize. Whether due to eyewitness misidentification, misleading or misinterpreted evidence, or procedural errors, wrongful arrests make people face criminal charges for something they never did. If it happens to you, you need a qualified Texas criminal defense lawyer who can offer needed guidance as you navigate this setback and ensure that your rights are protected.

How Do Mistaken Identity Arrests Happen?

Several factors can contribute to wrongful arrests, including:

• Eyewitness Misidentification: Sometimes, witnesses have unreliable memory. They can unintentionally select the wrong person from a lineup or misremember crucial details about a suspect’s appearance.

• Faulty Forensic Evidence: DNA samples, fingerprints, or other forensic evidence can be analyzed improperly, misinterpreted, or contaminated, leading to mistaken conclusions.

• Police Error: When officers act on incomplete or misleading information, they can end up arresting an innocent person.

• False Accusations: You can be wrongfully accused by someone for several reasons. The accuser might have a mistaken understanding of what happened or even ulterior motives, such as revenge or trying to direct police attention away from them and onto someone else.

• Surveillance Footage Misinterpretation: Authorities can misidentify someone from security camera footage or social media images, resulting in a wrongful arrest.

What Should You Do if You Are Wrongfully Arrested?

If law enforcement arrests you for a crime you did not commit, as hard as it can seem, try to remind yourself to remain calm. There are several things you can do to help protect your legal rights. First, under no circumstances should you try to resist arrest, as doing so can end up getting you in even more trouble. Even if you know you are innocent and should not be arrested, try to remain composed and cooperative even as you assert your rights.

Next, exercise your right to remain silent. Law enforcement officers might try to question you, hoping that you will say something incriminating that could be used against you. You should be polite, but inform them that you are invoking your right to remain silent until your lawyer arrives.

Your attorney can start gathering evidence to prove your innocence. This might involve collecting alibi evidence, obtaining surveillance footage, or interviewing witnesses who can verify your whereabouts at the time of the alleged offense. If forensic evidence played a role in the arrest, your attorney can request independent testing to challenge the prosecution’s claims.

Your lawyer can also review whether law enforcement followed proper procedures during your arrest and investigation. If the police violated your constitutional rights, such as conducting an unlawful search or coercing a statement out of you, your attorney can file motions to suppress evidence or dismiss the charges.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Houston, TX Criminal Defense Lawyer

Facing criminal charges due to mistaken identity can be overwhelming, but an experienced Houston, TX criminal defense attorney can help you navigate the complexities of the legal system and protect your rights. At Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C., we will fight for justice by challenging weak evidence, exposing procedural errors, and advocating for your wrongful charges to be dismissed. Call us at 713-229-8333 so we can build a strong case to clear your name.