Video still of 12-year-old Jacob Magruder (© WLFI, http://aka.ms/jailedteen)

Police goof puts 12-year-old in jail, leaves him in tears

5/17/2012

​You're 12 years old, your older brother has been arrested and you're sitting alone in a sheriff's office waiting room while your parents deal with it - so you're probably a little scared, right? Now imagine how Jacob Magruder felt when he was frisked by a deputy and placed in a holding cell, victimized by Jasper County, Ind., cops who managed to confuse him with his 17-year-old brother without bothering to ask his name or, you know, check with the arresting officer. "He was holding his belt in one hand and had tears coming down his face," said his mother, Michelle. An internal investigation into this casual approach to booking is under way. Maybe some badge-holder should get his next doughnut break in the same cell.

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Was this miscommunication or ineptitude?