Wrongful arrests now to be erased in Rhode Island
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Charles Belk was headed for a pre-Emmy party in Beverly Hills when a group of police officers converged on the tall black film producer and handcuffed him.
Apparently, to the Beverly Hills officers, Belk fit the description of someone who was wanted for accessory to armed bank robbery.
About six hours later, the officers let Belk go, acknowledging they had the wrong guy, telling him the real suspect had been detained. The story took a turn for the worse about a week later when he discovered he had been arrested — in addition to being detained — and now he had a record.
Belk was at the State House Tuesday when Governor Raimondo signed a law that requires Rhode Island law enforcement agencies to destroy any records from wrongful arrests.
Read more: http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20160802/wrongful-arrests-now-to-be-erased-in-ri