Woman jailed over mistaken identity wants apology

Kylie Wilson said it was the third time police had got her identity mixed up. Picture / Richard Robinson

An Auckland woman who was yesterday mistakenly arrested, strip-searched and locked up on her birthday is demanding a formal apology from police.

Kylie Maree Wilson, who turned 22 yesterday, was driving to West Auckland when she was stopped by police in a routine traffic operation.

"I thought I was going to be in trouble because one of my indicators was broken," she said.

But after handing police her passport she got worse news and was told there were warrants for her arrest for wilful damage and failing to appear in the Kaitaia District Court.

It was later established the warrants were for Kylie Marie Wilson, a part-Maori woman who lives in Northland and has two children.

Checks also revealed the two women have slightly different dates of birth.

Ms Wilson, who is European, said it was the third time police had mixed her up with the other Kylie Wilson.

But despite her protests yesterday she was taken to Henderson police station where she was locked up shortly after 1pm.

"I pleaded with them and cried for ages and told them they had the wrong person and couldn't do this.

"They told me I had given them false details in the past and that I had put on a really good act."

Ms Wilson said she was held but not formally charged and was not allowed access to a telephone to call a lawyer until five hours after she was taken into custody. She claims she was strip-searched by two policewomen without her lawyer or a doctor present.

"When I refused, one of them dug her fingers into my neck."

Although police called Internal Affairs to verify Ms Wilson's identity - which revealed she was who she said she was - Ms Wilson said they remained unconvinced.

Ms Wilson appeared in the Waitakere District Court yesterday to face the other woman's charges but her case was thrown out by a judge who said the police actions were a "cause for concern".

She said a "heartfelt" apology from a senior police officer did little to appease her and this latest incident of mistaken identity has made her completely lose faith in the police.

"The officer was teary-eyed but I was shaking at the time and really angry, just really pissed off.

"I had a birthday dinner to go to with my family and instead I spent it in a cell screaming and crying. I am going to take this as far as I can."

In a statement, police said Ms Wilson was arrested after she had allegedly given a false address. Additional information gave police good cause to arrest Ms Wilson.

Ms Wilson said she had moved from the address she gave "about a month ago" but was in a panic when she had to give her details to police.

Police would not comment further on how the matter of the outstanding warrants for the other Ms Wilson were proceeding but said the matter was being investigated.