A shocking incident occurred when US Marshals mistakenly arrested a grandmother in Arizona, believing she was a woman who had skipped probation 25 years ago. 66-year-old Penny McCarthy was at home outside of Phoenix when officers approached her with guns drawn, claiming she was under arrest. Despite McCarthy’s pleas for them to verify her identity, the officers refused and eventually detained her. It was later revealed that they mistook her for a 70-year-old woman from Oklahoma named Carole Anne Rozak, who had evaded probation since 1999. McCarthy denied being Rozak, but the officers did not allow her to prove her innocence and took her into custody.
After spending a night in federal prison, McCarthy was released the following day when prosecutors failed to provide substantial evidence against her. The case was dismissed shortly after, but US Marshals in Oklahoma later admitted to a fingerprinting glitch that incorrectly matched McCarthy to Rozak. A month after the incident, they confirmed that McCarthy was not their suspect. The agency is conducting a thorough review of the arrest and the actions of the officers involved. Despite the mistake being acknowledged, McCarthy was left traumatized by the event and now fears going outside in her own yard alone.
In an interview with ABC 15, McCarthy expressed disappointment in her government and claimed she felt as though she was being kidnapped during the wrongful arrest. The officers who approached her failed to show any identification or warrant until after she was already detained. McCarthy questioned their legitimacy and asked for proof that they were law enforcement, but they refused to provide any until she was in custody. Despite her protests and offers to prove her innocence, the US Marshals did not allow her to do so and proceeded to arrest her, leading to a night in prison before her release.
The grandmother’s horrifying experience highlights the flaws in the US Marshals’ system and their treatment of individuals. McCarthy’s story is a clear example of law enforcement acting without proper verification or consideration of the innocent person involved. The incident left her feeling as though the US Marshals were above the law and that the government allowed such injustices to occur. McCarthy’s trauma from the wrongful arrest serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of a flawed justice system and the impact it can have on innocent individuals. Despite being cleared of any wrongdoing, McCarthy’s trust in law enforcement has been shattered, and she now lives in fear of similar incidents occurring in the future.
