Black man sues police after being mistaken for white ex-felon

A young Black man was mistaken for a 51-year-old white man who had an active felony out against him. Now he is suing two police departments in Nevada.

Shane Lee Brown, a 25-year-old Black man, is suing two Nevada police departments after he says he was misidentified as a now-51-year-old white man who had an active felony warrant out against him.

Brown was arrested on January 8, 2020, during a traffic stop with Henderson, Nevada, police. Brown didn't have his driver's license with him but gave his name and Social Security information to police, according to the lawsuit.

When officers performed a records check on the name "Shane Brown," a felony bench warrant for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person appeared, according to the lawsuit.

Brown was then arrested and jailed and two days later, he was put in custody of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.