SOUTH PORTLAND — South Portland Police officers briefly detained a high school student who was mistakenly identified as a burglary suspect during a planned arrest operation near Deering High School on Tuesday.
The incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. when officers were preparing to execute a search and arrest warrant at 19 Orkney Street in Portland.
Officers observed a young man who closely matched the description of their target, 19-year-old Miles Hibbard, exit a vehicle and walk toward the address.
Following standard procedure for situations where firearms might be present, officers approached with weapons drawn, ordered the individual to the ground, and briefly handcuffed him.
Within five minutes, police determined they had detained the wrong person and immediately released the student and another individual who had been in the vehicle.
The students were on their lunch break from nearby Deering High School when they parked near the target residence.
Police later arrested Hibbard, the actual suspect, at his workplace in Cape Elizabeth.
The police department has spoken with family members of the detained individuals and school staff, and will be reviewing the incident to ensure all protocols were followed.
School administrators are providing resources to students who witnessed or were affected by the incident.
