What's in a name? Shreveport pastor Gregory Jones can tell you that despite what Shakespeare's Juliet may say, calling a rose by its real name doesn't mean it necessarily will smell sweet. In fact, it just may stink -- and include a stay at Caddo Correctional Center.
Jones was late for an appointment Monday when he was pulled over by a Caddo sheriff's deputy for speeding on Colquitt Road. Jones, pastor of Eden Worship Center on Russell Road, readily handed over his driver's license, insurance card and registration when asked.
"I thought: 'I'm going to get a speeding ticket, at worse,'" he said.
Soon, another deputy arrived. Moments later, Jones was handcuffed and in the back of a patrol car. Unsure of what was happening, Jones asked deputies why he had been arrested.
"They said: 'You are wanted out of Austin, Texas, for parole violations and some other crimes,'" Jones recalls. "I said: 'That's not me. I've never been to prison. I've never been on parole.'"
It seemed Jones shared the same first and last name and birth date with a wanted Texas man.
Deputies, who likely had heard more than one suspect make the same claim, weren't impressed with Jones' assertion of mistaken identity. And, department policy required them to be certain Jones, who has a Texas driver's license, was in fact who he said.
"Until you can verify, you can't allow a person to leave," said Caddo Lt. Don Gibbs, who noted the department was sorry for Jones' inconvenience but committed to ensuring wanted criminals weren't accidentally let go.
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SOURCE: Shreveport Times - Alison Bath
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