CHICAGO, Illinois, September 28, 2026 — Makia Gorham believes she was mistakenly served an assault charge while police confused her with her twin sister, and spent months battling the accusation. Police officers in the District of Columbia seized Gorham from her grandmother’s home, then arrested and charged her with assault, a lawsuit filed Tuesday claims. Months later, prosecutors dropped the case.
What the Lawsuit Alleges
According to the suit, Gorham’s family attempted to inform officers prior to her arrest that they had the wrong individual. Nonetheless, the family protested her arrest and police placed her into custody anyway, according to the complaint. Then she spent the night in a holding cell before appearing in court.
Gorham’s twin is the true perpetrator of the assault, according to a lawsuit. Gorham had to live with the charge for months before prosecutors dropped her case. The allegations are just that, and the court has not ruled on it.
This is a complaint that revolves around the warning Gorham’s family gave officers and how they acted on it. It raises doubts about how police verify identity when kin tell them an arrest is wrong. Disagreements like this often hinge on what officers knew when they made the arrest.
Why Identical Twins Make Police Work So Much Harder
When it comes to standard genetic tests, identical twins are almost indistinguishable due to their nearly identical DNA. Unlike twins, their fingerprints actually vary — genuine verification for detectives of who is who. Compared to photos and physical descriptions, matching two people who resemble one another is significantly less dependable.
There are also dangers in the use of eyewitness identification. The number of wrongful convictions from eyewitness misidentification, according to the Innocence Project, is one of the 3 main factors leading to wrongful convictions. When the two siblings look almost identical, a witness with memory of a face can mistakenly press on the wrong one.
By checking fingerprints and reviewing the evidence connecting an individual to the crime, we can mitigate against erroneous results. Well, families who raise concerns can also steer officers towards another suspect. Before long, these dossiers will become the lowest cost in practical risk mitigation; verification prior to arrest is much cheaper than funding a defense to a wrongful charge over months.
Most police departments confirm identity through fingerprinting, government photo records, and criminal history records. Weaker checks, like a name and a photo, can be fooled — especially if the two twins look alike. This is why identity verification typically counts most when booking, and prior to case progression.
The Cost of a Wrongful Charge
Even a dropped charge can wring the claimant at a cost. A person misses work, pays legal fees, and gets questioned by employers or landlords. Unless a court seals or expunges it, an arrest record can appear on background checks.
Not to mention the personal cost of months wasted in court and a night in a holding cell. Such families are in those months collecting evidence, securing lawyers and waiting for prosecutors to make a call. The ambiguity can create havoc with school, work and relationships.
Another way people try to make their governors accountable is civil lawsuits. Courts assess whether officers behaved reasonably based on what they knew then. In some instances, these cases are longstanding and can end in even the most arguable proven outcomes or oftentimes spent years coming to a successful close: a test of two sides.
What Comes Next
The case will now progress through civil court where each side will be able to present evidence and arguments. The District will be able to respond to those allegations via court filings. If the case goes to trial, a judge or jury would resolve any disputed facts.
So the people who think police have mistaken them for someone can request a lawyer and provide identification proof and location proof. Legal aid groups like the Legal Aid DC can answer questions about the next steps in each jurisdiction and understand their rights. Move fast to preserve records, including receipts, messages and video.
