"a lot of head-slapping moments"

Remember the Elizabeth Smart case? There's a new book out that reveals the detailed history of the case, including this tidbit:

In August 2002, two months after 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart disappeared, Salt Lake police were called to the downtown library to check out a homeless man wearing robes and his two female companions.

"Are you Elizabeth Smart?" the officer asked the young girl with the man.

"No, I'm Augustine Marshall," the girl replied.

The officer took no further action.

Embarrassing? Yes. Incompetent? Maybe. Inexcusable? I doubt it, at least for liability purposes, but I'd hate to be that officer.