Man free after mistaken identity

By Pete Skiba (2291)
pete.skiba@albanyherald.com

Tuesday, November 30, 2010
© Copyright 2013 Albany Herald

Photo by Laura Williams

ALBANY, Ga. -- Gregory Spann was freed from the Dougherty County Jail after being arrested and charged with murder in a case of mistaken identity, law enforcement officials said.

Spann, 30, was arrested Oct. 30 and charged with the 2 a.m. Oct. 29 pipe-beating death of Frankie Carr, 54, on East Broad Avenue at the intersection of Church Street. LaDerick Chappel, 31, was arrested Nov. 12 in Atlanta on Albany Police Department warrants for the same murder, Dougherty Judicial Circuit District Attorney Greg Edwards said Tuesday.

"It was an unfortunate coincidence for Mr. Spann that he was wearing what appeared to be the same clothes identified as being worn by the man culpable in the murder," Edwards said. "We had probable cause to arrest Mr. Spann. He had the same clothes and was in the same general area (as the murder) at the time. Other evidence distinguished the right man."

Edwards did not elaborate on what evidence led police to take out warrants on Chappel. Spann was released from jail Nov. 12, two weeks after he turned himself in, a jail spokeswoman said.

Chappel was transported from Atlanta to the county jail by the Dougherty County Sheriff's Office, said Capt. Craig Dodd. Chappel remained in jail Tuesday facing murder charges with no bond set.

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