A Southern California woman is suing the LAPD for a case of mistaken identity, where she spent 13 days in jail.
Bethany K Farber (30), was detained and later arrested while trying to board a flight from Los Angeles International Airport to Mexico last April.
The arrest was over a warrant issued from Texas. Bethany Farber was wanted by authorities for property damage. A side-by-side photo shows two women, the wanted woman with darker hair, and little resemblance to the blonde Bethany K. Farber who was arrested.
Farber gathered a legal team and her family to hold a news conference outside Los Angeles Police Department Tuesday.
Farber claimed she tried again and again to proclaim her innocence, by telling airport police there must be a terrible mistake. She even asked the officers to check her passport.
After being handcuffed at LAX, she was taken to a local police station before being booked into the Lynwood women’s jail.
Throughout the entire experience, Farber repeatedly tried telling authorities they had the wrong woman. However, despite her please, she still spent almost two weeks behind bars.
During that time she was harassed inside the jail and an inmate tried to touch her. They asked her for ‘favors she could not fulfill’ claimed Farber.
Her family hired attorneys in Texas and LA and finally were able to show through Farber’s cell phone GPS that Farber was in California on the day prosecutors alleged the crime took place in Texas.
Farber was eventually released, but says she is scarred by the 13-day ordeal.
“It could happen to anyone,” Farber warned.
“The fact no one checked her middle name, her birth date. No information representing her person. They didn’t even check basic information that Bethany was not the other Bethany Farber,” attorney Rodney Biggs said.
The lawsuit seeks $2.5 million for emotional distress, as well as for every day Farber was incarcerated. The City of Los Angeles, LAPD and LAX police are all listed as defendants. None would comment on pending litigation.
