An amazing case of mistaken identity police brutality

The 17-year-old girl who was wrongly locked in jail for seven days might be feeling terribly lucky.

http://nebraska.statepaper.com/pages/drudged/innocent.html

Amanda Sylvester might still be in jail, facing criminal charges that included aiding and abetting a robbery, were it not for an anonymous tip to a Crimestopper hotline.
arrest and arraignment stemmed from mistaken identity, according to Lieutenant Rick Ryan of the North Platte Police Department. One of the men involved in the recent robbery of a Kwik Shop identified Sylvester through a photograph, but said he didn't know her name.

"Amanda Sylvester was not involved in the robbery," Ryan said. "We have no information or any reason to believe that Amanda is involved in drugs or any illegal activity. We are horribly sorry about what happened."

To make matters worse for Sylvester, she had been arraigned as a adult and County Judge Kent Turnbull set bail at $250,000; she would have had to post $2,500 to be released.

Sylvester cried in court October 24 as Turnbull read the charges to her.

"I wasn't even there," Sylvester said. "I know these guys but don't understand why they're using my name."

"That may be all true but at this point; I just don't know," Turnbull said. "Talk to your attorney."

Although she is only 17, Sylvester was arraigned as an adult.

A week later, the Crimestopper tip led to the arrest of Kayce Schildhauer, 19, of North Platte.

Ryan said the women have very similar looks, and that the mistake was easily understood because of it.

"They have the same color hair, they're about the same size and they wear the same earrings," Ryan said. "But they are two different people."

Her guardian said she was concerned about the way Sylvester had been treated by the system -- especially the fact that she was arraigned as an adult.

Investigators brought Schildhauer in for questioning, which resulted in her arrest, Ryan said.

Sylvester's photograph and name had previously been used by local media, informing the community that she was a suspect.

"There have been some really nasty, ugly, things said about Amanda that never should have been allowed," Ryan said.

Police Chief Martin Sutschenritter apologized for the error, adding "There is a lesson to be learned here, that everything isn't always what it appears."

In addition to Schildhauer, three suspects have been arrested in the case: Nicholas T. Zierke, 19; Jesse S. Dorris, 25; Erik C. Ritter, 19.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Police
• Abuse
• kidblood1
• criminal
• charges
• police
• brutality
• cops
• 3101010

[AblonPahdellaJaherst]

OHWWW red the captions for a bit, then pause... FREAKY!.

[3101010]

@AblonPahdellaJaherst read, red is like blue or green

[dreakheart]

ANYWAY both these picture look alike , im wondering how many know this thing called photo shopping , their the same girl 0:9 ear rings , piercing top left eyebrow

there´s no coincedence some 1 setup this up

so i wonder ... i wonder why hasnt any1 noticed yet

maybe twins but same pierceing in eyebrow same earings , same hair split and colour , come on how many DUMB idiots are out there ..

[3101010]

@dreakheart Or you could look at the description look up the names in google and see this is a REAL event that took place in NORTH PLATTE, Neb. to a 17-year-old girl. But rather than do a little work yourself you just look DUMB

[TheTruePsycho]

if you're 14 and commit certain crimes you get waived as an adult. I spent 15 months in jail at 16 facing 20 years in prison for a mistaken identity as well. I could not make bail but beat the case in the end. Now what really sucks is when you get released they pat you on the back and say "oops" and you can't take any form of legal action against them.

[crymum1981]

@dreakheart u 4 1

[PanderflyLUV]

@holdupdown The fuck?

[ausdude77]

So, where is the police brutality? Two people look similar, a witness identified her then she was brought in and arrested. She was later released. Nothing in there shows that any officer did anything wrong at all let alone police brutality

[RUssia5748]

they dont even look the same at all. North Platte PD i hope they sue your dumb asses

[holdupdown]

At least their white they deserve hell!

[Francesmmather]

They do not look alike

[suckatstarcraft]

2 MUCH READING!!!

[Bossk333]

mmmmmm....................

Redheads

[rwatts17]

Obviously it's the same chick. Look at the ear, exactly the same. Just 'cause she has thicker eyebrows in one, doesn't mean it's not her.

[rainsrapidly]

@super00su shit so wrong.....if u dont have physical proof u should not be charged for a crime.....ppls perspectives are often wrong and biased....not reliable at all....the system has put so many black ppl and other ppl in general behind bars off of he/she say that are INNOCENT! it should be a crime to punish ppl without physical evidence....the law is still operating in the salem witch trial way of prosecuting