Imitated but not flattered

You know the old saying, “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery?”  One local man isn't flattered at all.  He says when someone pretended to be him, it cost him his driver's license, his job and his freedom.  Investigative Reporter Kristin Stinar reveals how it happened and what you can do to prevent it.

Most of us carry around a lot of things with our name on them.  Driver's license, movie rental card or work ID.  But the scary thing is, with all that proof of who we are, It doesn't protect us from someone pretending to be you.  Sometimes all it takes is to say it.

David Comeaux has spent a lot of time in Twin Cities jails over the years.  In fact it's where we found him just last week.  But the jails don't always know him as David.

In 2002, Anoka County booked him under the name "Marcus Comeaux."

"I used his name one time being booked into jail, yeah," said David.  One time?  We also found him booked under the name "Marcus" in Wright County.  "OK, yeah, maybe twice,” he said.

Lying to the jail was bad enough.  But David was also hurting the real Marcus Comeaux.  His younger brother.  "He was using my name just because I have a clean record,” said Marcus.

David says he and another man have also used his brother's name out on the road.  "I get pulled over.  Cop asks me for ID.  I tell him I lost my wallet or something you know.  They'd ask me for my information.  Instead of giving them my information, I'd just um, give them my brother's information, his date of birth."

And the ticket goes to Marcus Comeaux.  “They just keep popping up left and right,” said Marcus.

When the real Marcus got pulled over last November for an equipment violation... he ended up getting charged for driving without a license.  The state had revoked it for unpaid tickets.  He now depends on his girlfriend for a ride.   Marcus says he didn't know about those tickets or that his license was no good.  "I've lost a lot of jobs.  I've lost my license."

"On cases where we've seen it here it's sure screwed up the other person's life," said Captain Gary Torfin of the Wright County Sheriff’s Department.

We wanted to know how David got booked into the Wright County Jail with one face and one set of fingerprints, but under two different names.  Torfin says when prisoners like David don't have ID, the deputies often just take their word for it.  "Just full name, date of birth, address, telephone number... If that information is given clearly without hesitation we have no reason to doubt it."

Not a problem for David Comeaux.  He's been reciting his brother's identity for years.  "I'm sorry,” said David through tears.  "He knows how it is.  Drugs mess with your life."

Many squad car computers now have access to driver's license photos.  That may help prevent drivers from using another person's name.  You can also flag your driving record with an instruction to officers to check your ID closely.

Marcus Comeaux is looking into his options.  But he knows his name will forever be on police lists as an alias of his brother.