If you really want to understand Baltimore, you need to watch the television series The Wire. Failing that you should watch David Simon’s previous Baltimore-centric series, Homicide: Life on the Streets. In both you will encounter corruption, incompetence, and ineptness that will make you scream. Keep in mind, virtually everything you see on those shows comes from the actual experience of Baltimore police officers who were technical advisers.

Case in point:

When charges were announced Friday against Alicia White for the death of Freddie Gray, her phone started buzzing from journalists and bail bondsmen.

The problem was, they were calling the wrong Alicia White. The elementary school cafeteria manager from East Baltimore was not the Baltimore Police sergeant charged with manslaughter in the high-profile police custody death – even though court records listed her.

The Sun was among those who contacted the other White on Friday based on the information in court records, seeking comment from her or her family.

“The middle initial was off. Her address, her height, her weight, her driver’s license number – all of the information was my client’s information,” said Jeremy Eldridge, an attorney who says he has been hired by the resident.

“Her life has been a living hell the past four days,” he said.

An attorney for Lt. Brian Rice said his client’s information was also entered incorrectly when prosecutors filed charges, but declined further comment.

On Friday evening, Tammy and Brian Rice of Brunswick, Md. said they were receiving multiple calls from reporters looking for the lieutenant. Brian Rice of Brunswick is a plumber, they said.

That’s right. In what will be the most highly visible prosecution of her career, Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby has charged at least two of the people for the killing of Freddie Gray who are actually the wrong people. No rush to judgment here.

The sad truth is that the real Baltimore is even more incompetent and corrupt than the fictional Baltimore.