Have you ever waved at someone from across the room only to realize later that they were not who you thought they were?  To say that moment of mistaken identity is embarrassing would be an understatement. 

While always awkward and uncomfortable, these moments of mistaken identity probably happen more than you realize.  Sometimes they are funny moments that a few laughs and slaps on the back help you get through, and other times they can lead to less than kind situations.  For example, the past weekend in Jasper County, Indiana, a 12 year old boy was sitting in the waiting room of the Sherriff’s’ Office, while his older 17 year old brother, who had recently been arrested, was meeting with the sheriff and his parents.  A police officer walked by and asked the desk clerk, “Is this the boy I am supposed to take?” She answered yes, and before this young boy knew it, he was being searched, cuffed and led to a holding cell.  He wasn’t really sure what was going on, but he followed directions and got in the cell.  It was only a few minutes before the officers had realized that they had made a mistake. The kid was actually given one phone call which he made to a local bail bondsman…okay, we made that part up, but can you blame us?

Now I don’t know about you, but I am pretty sure that most of us could tell the difference between a 12 year old boy and a 17 year old man…but then again, who really knows?  Read the original story below.

Original article:  12-year-old kid put in jail by mistake