Former Berwyn 1st Ward Alderman candidate Frank Amaro, 48, of the 3600 block of South Wenonah Avenue, said a case of mistaken identity is to blame for his arrest Sunday in connection with misdemeanor solicitation charges.

Amaro was arrested and charged with soliciting a prostitute, according to Chicago police.

“Trust me, there’s been a great error made,” Amaro said Tuesday.

Amaro said he was on his way to work at about 9:30 p.m. Sunday when he pulled into a gas station for coffee. As he was leaving, Chicago police officers pulled him over in the 4800 block of West 49th Street, just west of Cicero Avenue.

Amaro said police told him they were looking for a person in a blue van. He was arrested and his black van was impounded, Amaro said.

“The report even says they were looking for a blue van. I don’t own a blue van,” Amaro said. “They’ve already given me (the van) back and everything.”

Chicago police spokesman officer Ron Gaines said he could not provide any details of the arrest, saying the department does not release information for misdemeanor arrests.

Amaro ran unsuccessfully as an independent candidate for Berwyn’s 1st Ward in the April 7 election. A U.S. Army veteran, Amaro is active in numerous veterans organizations and serves as the state assistant legislative director for the VFW.

Amaro said he is scheduled for a court appearance in July, but his attorney expects to have the charges thrown out before the court date.