Elaine McAlister was ready for a much-needed getaway to Jamaica. Instead, she spent four days behind bars after being wrongfully arrested at Kansas City International Airport in October 2023.
Police mistook her for another Black woman accused of a misdemeanor marijuana charge—despite having a photo of the actual suspect, who looked nothing like her.
Now, McAlister, a 31-year-old nurse, is suing the Kansas City Airport police, alleging false arrest, racial discrimination, and harassment. Her lawsuit, filed in Platte County, Missouri, on Jan. 31, names officers Kyle Greenwalt and Matthew Zils, as well as the city of Kansas City, as defendants.
Police Ignored Clear Evidence
The lawsuit states that McAlister was the victim of identity theft. Another woman had used her stolen driver’s license when arrested in Johnson County, Kansas, in August 2023, and later failed to appear in court, triggering an arrest warrant.
Despite having a photo of the real suspect, officers ignored key differences. The actual suspect had multiple tattoos, while McAlister had none. Officers also failed to check fingerprints—an oversight that could have cleared McAlister immediately.
The warrant itself was invalid, the lawsuit argues, because it was issued in Kansas while McAlister was in Missouri. Only after arresting her did prosecutors obtain a valid Missouri warrant—something the lawsuit claims is a violation of state law.
A Devastating Ordeal
McAlister’s arrest happened on October 14, 2023, just before she was set to board her flight. Officers approached her, demanded her identification, and placed her in handcuffs.
Confused and frightened, she told officers that her ID had been stolen and that she had never been arrested in Johnson County. Her friend begged them to compare her photo to the real suspect, but they refused. Instead, they took her to Platte County Jail, where she remained for four nights.
It wasn’t until October 18 that a jail employee finally checked her for tattoos, realized she was not the suspect, and ordered her release.
Fighting for Justice
McAlister’s wrongful arrest is part of a larger pattern of Black Americans being misidentified and falsely arrested based on flimsy evidence. Advocates say cases like hers highlight the dangers of racial profiling and the lack of accountability in law enforcement.
Her supporters, including longtime friends, have spoken out on social media.
- “Elaine is one of the kindest, most honest people I know,” one friend wrote.
- “She’s a nurse, a loving mother, and a law-abiding citizen. They messed with the wrong woman.”
Now, McAlister is seeking damages for the emotional trauma and humiliation she endured.
A Call for Change
The lawsuit states that McAlister has suffered ongoing emotional distress, including anxiety, fear, and humiliation.
Her case raises critical questions about racial bias in policing and the ease with which innocent Black people can be arrested for simply ‘matching a description.’
Kansas City officials have yet to comment on the lawsuit, but McAlister is determined to hold them accountable.
