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Slaying arrest a result of mistaken ID
Florida man has same name, birth date as suspect

By Laura Johnson • ljohnson@monroe.gannett.com • November 11, 2008


A Florida man traveling through Ouachita Parish over the weekend was pulled over by state police because the tinting on his windshield was too dark. He was soon living the great American nightmare.
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Jose A. Lazo was arrested on suspicion of murder after the routine background check that troopers conduct during a stop turned up a fugitive with the same name, birth date and description, wanted for murder in Horry County, S.C.

Lazo, 27, of Tampa, Fla., was placed under arrest. His protesting wife, Jana M. Lazo, 33, also was taken in for resisting arrest and interfering with a trooper.

Seven hours passed before fingerprint comparisons proved this Jose A. Lazo was not the one wanted for the South Carolina murder.

He was released Sunday, the same day of the arrests, but his wife bonded out and still faces pending charges.

Fourth Judicial District Attorney Jerry Jones said Monday he was unaware of the case and would review it and take appropriate action.

State police Troop F commander Capt. Donald French could not be reached for comment. Troop spokesman Mark Dennis said Lazo was given no apology upon his release because troopers were "acting in good faith."

"Troopers did everything right, it was just unfortunate," he said.

The arresting officer was Jason Hanemann, according to Jana Lazo's arrest report. Hanemann wrote that Jana Lazo was arrested "after several commands and no compliance."

Hanemann's report read: "I attempted to place Mrs. Lazo under arrest. Mrs. Lazo told me I could not arrest her and began jerking away from me violently. Mrs. Lazo was removed from the vehicle and put to the ground and handcuffed."

Mug shots and booking information of both Lazos were taken off the Ouachita Correctional Center Web site.

"I asked them to take down Jose Lazo, and they probably took them both down by mistake," Dennis said.

Jose Lazo and Jana Lazo could not be reached for comment.

State Attorney General Buddy Caldwell, who gave a speech in Monroe at a law enforcement certification ceremony, supported the trooper's action but said the Lazos deserve an apology.

"The public's safety is paramount," Caldwell said. "You want to always be careful."