A woman named Teresa Culpepper ended up spending nearly 2 months in Fulton County jail after Atlanta police made a horrible mistake.
Back in August, Culpepper reported to police that her truck had been stolen, and instead of assisting her, police arrested her and took her to the Fulton County Jail where she spent 53 days for an aggravated assault allegedly committed by another woman named Teresa.
Culpepper’s attorney Ashleigh Merchant says her client’s birth date, address and description didn’t even match the Teresa who was wanted.
“Her birth date didn’t match. Her address didn’t match. Her description didn’t match. Other than the name Teresa, nothing matched,” Merchant said. (Since when did cops arrest you based solely off your first name?)
Culpepper was finally released last week (Wed. Oct 12) after her public defender got the assault victim to come to court and say that the woman in court wasn’t the attacker.
“I was like real rejoiceful, glad and happy that it came to an end and that somebody was out there, out there trying to help me,” Culpepper, 47, said.
The real Teresa has yet to be apprehended, so if your name is Teresa and you live in Atlanta, lawyer up now so you don’t “accidentally” get thrown in prison for 53 days for something you didn’t do.
Georgia … get your sh*t together!
