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Lawsuit: NM Police Arrested Wrong Man For DUI

nmsp.dps.state.nm.us

A New Mexico man says state police wrongly arrested him for driving under the influence because a trooper thought he was a suspect who had the same name.

A lawyer for Blas Varela recently filed a federal lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque in a case that accused New Mexico State Police of wrongful imprisonment.

According to court documents, Varela was arrested in September following a minor traffic stop in San Juan County. Court documents say the trooper told Varela he had an arrest warrant stemming from a 2000 case.

The lawsuit says Varela's birthday and social security number didn't match that of the suspect but the trooper arrested him anyway.

He was freed after four days in jail.

Varela seeks an unspecified amount in damages.

The New Mexico Attorney General's office did not immediately respond to an email.

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