4 days in jail on mistaken identity

WARREN — A city woman arrested by Howland Township police on a warrant last month — and kept in Trumbull County Jail four days in error — says she believes she’s been the ultimate victim of identity theft.

Renee A. White, 35, of Parkman Road, says that when Howland Patrolman Richard Mahan pulled over the car she was riding in with Michael R. Thomas, 18, at about 2:19 a.m. Oct. 12, Mahan asked her about three false names that came up on the computerized law enforcement identification in connection with her name.

White says she told the officer during the traffic stop that she’s never used an alias.

Specifically, the officer asked her about the name Tammy L. Johnson, who was wanted on an arrest warrant out of Liberty Township on two counts of forgery for allegedly using stolen checks.

“I’m like, ‘No, I’m Renee White, and I’ve always been Renee White,’ ” she said.

Mahan then pulled up a picture of White on the computer in the police cruiser.

“I said, ‘That’s my picture and yes that’s my Social [Security number], but I’m not Tammy Lynn Johnson.’ He’s like, ‘Well, you’re under arrest for fraud,’ ” she said.

For more, see Friday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com