Cruise Ends in Arrest Due to Mistaken Identity
Jennifer Heath Box, a Texas resident, is suing the Broward County Sheriff’s Office after being wrongfully arrested at Fort Lauderdale’s port on Christmas Eve 2022. Box and her husband had just returned from a celebratory cruise with family, planning to fly back to Houston for Christmas with their Marine son, who was preparing for deployment to Japan.
Instead, deputies arrested the 50-year-old, accusing her of being a younger woman with a similar name wanted in Harris County, Texas, for felony child endangerment. Box was jailed for three days before being released, even after authorities realized the error.
Incarceration Experience and Lawsuit
During her time in jail, Box was subjected to a body cavity search, endured freezing temperatures, and said her cell was blasted with loud death metal music. At a press conference, she recounted the humiliation and fear she experienced, including an incident where a male inmate repeatedly tried to enter her cell.
Despite Harris County confirming that Box was the wrong person, she remained incarcerated for an additional day, missing her son’s departure. “It was humiliating, degrading,” Box said.
Legal Action and Defense
Box’s federal civil rights lawsuit, filed Thursday, names the Broward County Sheriff’s Office and deputies Peter Peraza and Monica Jean, accusing them of failing to recognize glaring discrepancies in the warrant. The real suspect was much younger, had a different middle name, and a different physical appearance.
Jared McClain, Box’s attorney from the Institute for Justice, emphasized that while Harris County made an error, the Broward deputies failed to act on clear evidence of mistaken identity. “At none of those red flags did anyone in Broward County stop and say, ‘Maybe we’re making a mistake here,’” McClain said.
Sheriff’s Office Response
The Broward Sheriff’s Office defended the actions of its deputies, stating that they followed proper procedures based on the information received from Harris County. “The BSO deputy followed the appropriate protocols…and after receiving confirmation of the Harris County warrant, arrested Ms. Box,” the department said in a statement, shifting responsibility to Harris County.
Mistaken Identity Due to Faulty Warrant
The arrest occurred after U.S. Customs and Border Patrol flagged Box during routine checks as she disembarked from the cruise. Harris County had mistakenly placed Box’s photo on the arrest warrant, despite other identifying details not matching the suspect.
Bodycam footage captured the moment when Box was told about her arrest, showing her calmly pointing out discrepancies in the warrant. Despite her efforts, the deputies proceeded with the arrest, citing the photo as justification.
Cold Jail Conditions and Post-Arrest Trauma
Box described her time in jail as “traumatic,” noting that the facility was freezing, and she was given only a thin uniform while guards wore heavy winter clothing. She and her cellmate huddled together to stay warm. A day after Broward County learned of Harris County’s mistake, Box was finally released without an apology.
As the lawsuit moves forward, Box and her attorney are seeking justice for the distress and financial burden caused by the wrongful arrest, which cost her family thousands in additional expenses during the holidays.
