Arizona Man Says American Airlines to Blame over His False Arrest

An American Airlines passenger who was mistaken for a burglary suspect is suing the airline after he spent 17 days behind bars. The lawsuit was filed earlier last week in Texas and alleges that the man, 46-year-old Michael Lowe, suffered from “incomprehensible trauma” after spending time in a New Mexico detention center. In his lawsuit, Lowe blames the airlines for “gross negligence” in working with authorities during the investigation of the burglary.

The events leading up to the lawsuit occurred on May 12th, 2020, when Lowe was on board an American Airlines flight heading to Reno, Nevada from his hometown of Flagstaff, Arizona.

During Lowe’s layover in Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, a man was caught on surveillance camera burglarizing a duty-free store in the airport’s terminal. Security footage later showed that the man boarded the flight Lowe was on.

Following the burglary, airport police conducted an investigation in which a search warrant was issued to American Airlines. The search warrant required the airline to “produce any and all recorded travel data” relating to passengers aboard the flight.

According to the lawsuit, when officials asked the airlines for a list of passengers, the airlines handed over one name: Michael Lowe. The lawsuit contends that American Airlines did not appropriately respond to the search warrant because they “did not produce ‘any and all recorded travel data for all individuals.’”

In addition to the search warrant, security footage showing the burglar was also used in apprehending Lowe. However, Lowe and his lawyer contend that the security footage shows a man with a seemingly bald head or with a low military-style cut when Lowe at the time of his flight was pictured with a full head of hair.

After the airlines handed over Lowe’s name, authorities entered his information into the National Crime Information Center database and issued two arrest warrants on June 30. Unbeknownst to Lowe, the two warrants out for his arrest included one for felony burglary of a building and another for misdemeanor criminal mischief.

Over a year after the incident, police responded to a disturbance at a holiday celebration in Tucumcari, New Mexico. Lowe, who was at that holiday celebration on vacation with friends, had his identification checked and authorities were alerted of his outstanding warrants. Lowe was arrested and then sent to Quay County Detention Center in Tucumcari.

The lawsuit goes on to explain that Lowe lived in a constant state of fear while he was in the detention center. The lawsuit details Lowe experienced “the most trying physical test of [his] life” and that he was at “the bottom of the pecking order.”

The lawsuit explains that “violent outbursts arose over any trivial act—the use of the shared television [and] access to the phones in the pod.” Lowe goes on to detail having witnessed a younger inmate get punched in the face several times by another inmate. “To have to sit in silence and not come to the aid of a fellow human being — particularly someone vulnerable like the younger inmate — was excruciating,” the lawsuit reads.

As a result of his time at the facility, Logan contends that he is still battling major bouts of anxiety and distress stemming from his experience at the detention center.

"As a result of this sustained severe emotional pain, anguish, anxiety, depression, and loss of self-esteem, Mr. Lowe has become a man desperate to find himself," the lawsuit details.

In addition to the emotional pain caused by the incident, Lowe shares that he was hit financially because he was unable to work during the 17 days he spent behind bars. Lowe, who works as a professional outdoorsman and career guide, was unable to generate an income during the time he was incarcerated.