Louisiana pastor who shares name with wanted Texas criminal mistakenly arrested

Officer, that’s not me! Mistaken ID jails pastor

SHREVEPORT, La. — A series of unfortunate coincidences led to a case of mistaken identity that put a Louisiana minister behind bars for nearly eight hours. Gregory Jones, pastor at Eden Worship Center, was pulled over for speeding and arrested as a man wanted for violating parole in Texas. The minister not only had the same name as the wanted man, but the same birthdate — and a Texas driver’s license. So he wound up handcuffed and taken to a Shreveport jail.

Jones said deputies treated him well and assured him they were checking his claims. A photograph and fingerprint check eventually confirmed he wasn’t the wanted man.

Caddo Lt. Don Gibbs said the department was sorry for Jones’ inconvenience but committed to ensuring wanted criminals don’t accidentally go free.

Information from: The Times, www.shreveporttimes.com