It happened in the days before the internet as well.
Back in the 80s I was backing out of a parking lot and had to stop when the cop stuck his gun in my face. I did look like the wanted guy and I was driving a similar car.
“You match the description”
Me: short skinny white guy who knows no to wear pants.
Suspect: fat black guy with stubble and low pants.
My response: “get your [censored] eyes checked! Do I look dark to you?!”
Ahhh...autocowrecked.
“Knows how to wear pants”
I love watching what I typed go wonky because the phone thinks it knows better.
I still suspect you after all these years!
At least in the old days, they didn't shoot you dead and ask questions later. I have a relative who was a cop back then in the 1970s (and still is). He used to tell us many a story. One that stuck with me is out they responded to a report they got over the radio by doing a stop, yanking the guy out of the car and beating him up. Then they heard a followup on the radio that the perp got caught nearby. Yup, they beat the wrong guy. And got away with it somehow, swept under the rug. This was when my relative was a rookie, he mellowed out soon after.