Kid mistaken for older brother

JASPER COUNTY, Ind.  – A case of mistaken identity now has Jasper County, Indiana Sheriff’s Police investigating why a 12-year-old boy was wrongfully jailed.

 12-year-old Jacob Magruder was sitting in the lobby waiting for his family at the Jasper County jail in Rensselaer.  The boy’s family had gone upstairs with his 17-year-old brother who had just been arrested. 

Jacob said an officer asked a woman if ‘this was the guy he’s supposed to take and the woman responded, ‘yes.’

Jacob said he was then asked to stand up as the officer patted him down, saying this was like 'just to make sure you have no weapons on you,'  Jacob said.

The boy said he was then taken behind a closed door and put in a holding cell.

"This lady came and said 'can you get in this cell for me,' and I was like 'sure,' " Jacob said. "They locked the door and it was cell number 1206 and they locked it."

Jacob said he sat in 1206 for several minutes until officials realized they took him, thinking it was his 17-year-old brother.

Jasper County Sheriff Terry Risner said an on-going internal investigation is being conducted at this time.  Authorities call it a possible miscommunication and wrongful identification of a person that was at the sheriff's office when the incident was reported.  Sherriff  Risner would not say if anyone involved in this incident has been disciplined. The investigation continues.

{NW Indiana Times}