East Baltimore arrest sparks questions after police misidentify 20-year-old

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An East Baltimore arrest caught on camera is raising questions after police mistakenly arrested a 20-year-old with their guns drawn.

The video, shared with WBAL-TV 11 News by the man's family, shows the scene at the intersection of East Monument and North Luzerne streets.

In the video, three law enforcement officers can be seen surrounding the man, who is handcuffed and sitting on the curb.

When someone asks one of the officers why the 20-year-old was arrested, the officer can be heard saying, "a warrant."

A Baltimore City police cruiser then arrives at the scene. Two minutes after the cruiser arrives, the man is placed inside.

Once the man is inside the police cruiser, agents can be seen leaving the scene. U.S. Postal Inspection Service officers are seen getting into a white Toyota Sienna with tinted windows and a Maryland license plate.

The Baltimore City police cruiser then leaves, followed by the Toyota Sienna and a gray Dodge minivan. Three additional police cruisers then follow the vehicles.

However, Baltimore County told WBAL-TV 11 News the arrest, which was made in Baltimore City by county police, was a case of mistaken identity.

The arrest was part of an operation that started with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Northern Virginia.

Postal inspectors were investigating a person wanted for mailbox thefts who had the same name as the 20-year-old.

Baltimore County said detectives with the Woodlawn precinct were assisting postal inspectors in serving a felony arrest warrant and a seizure warrant.

"Based on information provided by members of the U.S. Postal Service, an arrest was made in Baltimore City. Once it was determined officers had misidentified the subject in custody, he was immediately released without charges,” a Baltimore County Police Department spokesperson said. “Once it was determined officers had misidentified the subject in custody, he was immediately released without charges.”

Baltimore County police are conducting an administrative review of the actions taken by the officers.