Nothing but trouble follows Camden man’s effort to help relative

Fearing he had been targeted for robbery, a Camden man called police not knowing that he had a target on his back all right, one he had played a roll in placing there.

David White told two Camden police officers Jan. 23 that he was warned that his girlfriend and another man were “conspiring to rob him,” the incident report stated.

As one officer took down White’s tale, the other started the investigation by running White’s identification number through central dispatch.

Pretty soon, White was handcuffed and loaded into the police car – “the handcuffs were double locked and checked for proper fit,” the officer stated.

White’s social security number, general description – a 57-year-old black male – and date of birth all matched an outstanding warrant in New Jersey.

Not again? Columbia Police made the same mistake several years ago, White said.

White explained that he tried to do an ex-con cousin a favor several years before. His cousin had told him he needed a new identity to get a job. So White gave him his social security number.

White said he had nothing but trouble since.

His saving grace this time was that he lacked a tattoo on his chest like the “David White” wanted in Bergen County, N.J.

The David White of Camden was released from investigative detention and he was left with an identity theft file consent form to fill out. Updated photos of him were taken and attached to the report.

As to the robbery threat, the officers talked to the alleged conspirator. No details of that conversation were included in the incident report.

This story was originally published January 27, 2016 at 6:41 PM.