A law abiding man was forcefully taken into custody this week after a silent alarm at his California home was triggered – but he says it’s all a case of mistaken identity.
Jimmie Williams III told ABC he shares a name – and a birthday with another man, who has a lengthy criminal history and a warrant out for his arrest.
Jimmie Antonio Williams Jr, the felon, has been plaguing his law abiding counterpart for more than a decade.
Jimmie Williams III says he has been arrested multiple times because he shares the same name and date of birth with a felon
Williams III says he has been arrested twice before thanks to Williams Jr – once in 2006 and again in 2009.
‘I’ve had to be drawn out of my car, felony stops, with my kids at gunpoint. It’s been a real inconvenience to me,’ he said.
This week, when police arrived to his silent alarm, Williams III said he thought he was ready.
Things were going well, until officers asked for his ID. Despite telling officers he had been falsely arrested for this before, Williams III still ended up in hand cuffs.
‘I began to explain that there is another gentleman. I’m not the gentleman. I’ve been through this before.’
He told ABC officers said they would not let him go until he provided his social security number.
Jimmie Antonio Williams Jr (left) has a lengthy rap sheet and an outstanding warrant for his arrest, while Jimmie Williams III (right) has no criminal history
Moments later, despite telling officers he had recently had shoulder surgery, his hands were cuffed behind his back and he was being arrested on Williams Jr’s warrant.
While a spokesman from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department says officers are right to exercise caution in the way they have been, Williams III says it’s not good enough.
‘I don’t feel I should be punished, detained harassed, kidnapped or assaulted based on false identity,’ he said.
But until the real criminal is found, Williams III will just need to lay low.
Williams III was arrested this week after police came to his home when his silent alarm was triggered. They have not apologized for the case of mistaken identity