Wrong Man Handcuffed, Drugged And Brought To Psychiatric Hospital In Case Of Mistaken Identity

A serious case of mistaken identity led to a trip to the hospital to be unwillingly injected with drugs for a Pennsylvania man, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

Eugene Wright just happened to share a name with another man who allegedly caused problems at a doctor’s office that morning. The other Eugene Wright was reportedly a psychiatric patient who threatened others that day, meaning authorities felt he needed imminent treatment.

As the wrong Wright exited his job at an auto parts shop on June 15 in Meadville, Pennsylvania, he was accosted by police officers and a Stairways Behavioral Health representative. They reportedly told Wright that he was the one at the doctor’s office earlier that day, which he vehemently denied. According to Wright’s federal lawsuit, filed Wednesday, they did not verify his identity in any way before handcuffing him and taking him to Meadville Medical Center.

Wright’s account of the story from there is that he continued to insist they had the wrong guy, even as they told him they would inject him with drugs at the hospital. He supposedly told them that he had been at work when the initial incident at the doctor’s office took place. Still, they went forward with their plan and Wright relented, letting the nurse give him the drugs.

Per the Post-Gazette, authorities later realized they had the wrong person. For his trouble, Wright said the hospital apologized and gave him a gift card to Montana’s Rib and Chop House.

Wright’s lawsuit accused the officers who initially took him in of violating his civil rights. It also said the hospital intentionally caused him distress with its negligence in the matter.