Suspect had perfect alibi -- a prison term

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MIAMI, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- A man arrested on suspicion of committing a crime in Florida almost 25 years ago had the perfect alibi -- he could prove he was in a Texas prison at the time.

Jose Garcia was released from the Dade County Jail Monday, The Miami Herald reported. But he had to pay his own way back to Texas and his arrest cost him his job.

Garcia was arrested in Texas when he and a friend were pulled over as they returned from a fishing trip. Police checked his record and found a warrant for a Jose Garcia with the same birthday was wanted for kidnapping and robbery in the Miami area in 1984.

He asked Texas police to check his record, where they would find that in 1984 he was serving a sentence for guiding illegal immigrants over the border from Mexico. But he was sent to Florida.

''I was so confused and sad on the plane, tied from head to toe, and everyone was looking at me,'' Garcia told the Herald after his release.

Once he could show he had not been in Florida in 1984 he had to prove he was a U.S. citizen before he was finally freed.