My question involves defamation in the state of: California
This happened less then 11 months ago. I'm wondering if I have a case.
When I looked outside the peep hole of my front door, there were two undercover cops. Then when I came out, about 8 cops swarmed me! They said they had a warrant for my arrest and could arrest me outside infront of all the neighbors OR allow me to come in my house and search it. I chose choice B, but once they came in they basically kicked doors open holding their guns, just to make sure there were no people hiding in my house. I gave them permission to search the entire house, because I didn't have anything to hide.
There was a $1 million bail placed. I couldn't believe what was happening! Apparently, there was a home invasion/kidnapping with a gun that took place at a $5million home a few cities away a few days prior.
The robber tied the lady's hands up with trash bag fasteners. As the attacker hurried to get away, he stashed a briefcase in some bushes with a gun and some random names of high end realtors. In the brief case was a piece of my mail. They showed the victim my Drivers License picture, and she said it looked like me! She said it was a "dark looking caucasian." They kept me in a cold room for about 5 hours until they went thru my laptop, called witnesses who saw me that day, and checked out my debit card transactions from looking at my online bank accounts to verify my wherabouts.
After I proved to them that it was impossible for me to be in that particular city at the time of the crime, they drove me back home. In the meantime, they had my laptop and didn't give it back until the next day. I guess they needed to finish downloading my computer files JUST IN CASE gun came back with my DNA on it they said.
Actually they never technically "arrested" me even though they had a WARRANT to "detain" me. They put handcuffs on me infront of the entire culdesac and "detained" me for questioning. They never booked me. They released me bec there was not sufficient evidence. They told me that if I said no to signing something that would let them keep my computer, they would just get a warrant from the judge to do it anyway, and that will keep me in jail at least another 1-2 days, so I signed. So, I signed something that allowed them to invade my privacy even more just to get out of jail.
Whenever somebody does a background check on me, they can see 209 (B) which is KIDNAPPING TO COMMIT ROBBERY, even though it wasn't me.
About a week later, I found out they caught the suspect and he had the same EXACT NAME as me, but a different middle initial. The reason he had a piece of my mail is, because a collection company for a past due bill sent him my mail.
I don't think I can sue the Police Department, but can I sue the collection company?

