Vancouver bus driver Richard Brandow is finally home after a case of mistaken identity at the border turned into a costly weeklong ordeal.
Brandow, 63, was arrested on a 20-year-old warrant at the Peace Arch border crossing into Washington State on Feb. 11, when U.S. authorities mistook him for an international fugitive with the same name.
After spending a night in jail, Brandow's lawyer advised him to remain in the United States to face charges in Seattle Superior Court.
But on Friday, Brandow returned home after the case was thrown out entirely.
"Thank God this is all over and I'm back home," Brandow told CTV News. "Clearly a mistake was made, and that part does infuriate me because I have never been in trouble with the law or have a record, so it is a slap in the face."
The other Richard Brandow was charged with malicious mischief for planting a computer virus and is 15 years younger than the Vancouver bus driver. The court also opted to dismiss this case because its age would make it difficult to prosecute the correct person in the future.
Exoneration papers came though from the court late Friday afternoon declaring the 63-year-old Brandow was not an international fugitive.
"I'm going to carry those papers every time I cross the border," Brandow said.
The mistake has cost the Brandow family a lot of money. They had to post a $50,000 bond to get the 63-year-old out of jail that will be returned, but they cannot reclaim the $5,000 bond charge.
Brandow also said he had to spend at least $20,000 for the legal bills, motel stay and long distance calls.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Nafeesa Karim
