Cumberland County, Pennsylvania

A Monterey, Tennessee woman has filed a federal lawsuit alleging she was wrongfully arrested and jailed after officers mistook her for a different woman with the same first and last name. Nicole Maclellan says she was pulled over by Monterey police on June 29 over a license plate light and was told she was wanted in Cumberland County on theft and criminal trespass charges. She insists she told officers repeatedly they had the wrong person, but was arrested, transferred to Cumberland County deputies, and jailed for several hours.

The lawsuit contends the actual suspect had a different middle name, birth date, Social Security number, driver's license number, physical description, and vehicle — and was already in custody at the Putnam County Jail at the time of Maclellan's arrest. Maclellan says she lost her job as a result. The suit names the Town of Monterey, Cumberland County, and Putnam County along with several officers, deputies, and jailers.