RICHARDSON, TX – Three bounty hunters are facing legal trouble after mistakenly abducting a man they thought was a murder suspect. The incident happened in Richardson, where Hussein Al-Saadi, a 22-year-old barber, was wrongly targeted and taken from his garage.
The real suspect, another Hussein Al-Saadi, is believed to be in Iraq. The bounty hunters now face charges, including kidnapping, due to their error.
On June 1, while Al-Saadi was cutting hair, a U-Haul van arrived, and three armed men seized him. The client present was later identified as an informant for the hunters.
The hunters had used a facial recognition tool that indicated a 79% match, leading them to believe they had their man. However, after hearing Al-Saadi’s claims of innocence, they contacted police for verification.
Richardson police detained Al-Saadi until FBI agents confirmed his identity through fingerprinting, proving he was not the suspect. The hunters then left the scene.
Authorities later confirmed the real suspect had fled to Iraq. The U.S. Marshals, who were not contacted, stated they could have clarified the identity.
Al-Saadi’s family, who sought refuge from violence in Iraq, were shaken by the event. The wrongful capture was reminiscent of past traumas.
Alan Hinton, head of the bounty hunters, defended their actions, highlighting the complexities of their job and the lack of qualified immunity. He maintained they acted on available data.
The bail bond company has refused to comment. Police continue to search for one of the bounty hunters who remains at large.