The father of promising Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Cam Ward has lost his home, business, and livelihood following a terrifying armed stand-off with US Marshals that he claims was a devastating case of mistaken identity.
Caliph Ward, 52, saw his world unravel in a matter of hours when a SWAT team descended on his family's property in Homestead, Florida. The incident, which involved helicopters and heavily armed officers, was sparked by a warrant for a man with a similar name—his son, Calvin 'CJ' Ward Jr.
The authorities were seeking a 'Calvin Ward' on serious charges of attempted murder and armed robbery. Despite frantic pleas from the Ward family that they had the wrong man, the situation escalated dramatically.
"They came in like it was a terrorist attack," Caliph Ward told DailyMail.com. "My son is Cam Ward, the quarterback. The guy they wanted is Calvin Ward. It's a completely different person."
A Business Destroyed and a Family Traumatised
The consequences were catastrophic. During the raid, the US Marshals Service executed a 'risk protection' order, seizing every firearm from the property—including those vital for Caliph's security business, effectively shutting it down.
To add immense financial insult to injury, the City of Homestead subsequently condemned the family's damaged home and the adjacent units that housed his business. He was ordered to vacate the premises immediately.
"They took my ability to work, they took my home, they took my investment property... they took everything from me," a devastated Ward stated.
A Case of Mistaken Identity
The heart of the issue lies in the name. The actual subject of the manhunt, Calvin Ward, is a 22-year-old with a lengthy criminal record. Cam Ward, the NFL rookie, is 21 and has no criminal history.
Despite providing evidence of his son's identity and his professional football career, the authorities initially refused to believe the family. The stand-off only ended when the real Calvin Ward was located and arrested elsewhere.
The Ward family is now left picking up the pieces, facing homelessness and financial ruin while seeking answers and accountability for the life-altering error.
