Attorneys representing one Alabama woman shared a video showing her arrest by a cop who took her into custody for failing to identify herself at her own home.
According to Twyla Stallworth’s lawyers, she was arrested on Feb. 23, 2024, in Andalusia, Alabama, following a dispute over a noise complaint.
Stallworth, a Black woman, tried to call the police that day to report her neighbor, who is white, for playing loud music in her neighborhood. After receiving no response, she set off her car alarm to get her neighbor’s attention. That neighbor ended up calling 911 to report the noise from the alarm. Police responded to the neighbor’s call and one officer arrived at Stallworth’s home to confront her.
Stallworth’s legal team said Andalusia Officer Grant Barton arrived at her home and threatened to cite and arrest Stallworth for the car alarm, but he refused to address Stallworth’s noise complaints directed at her neighbor.
After Stallworth told Barton that his treatment was racially motivated, Barton began asking for her identification, according to her attorneys. Stallworth’s son began recording a cellphone video of the encounter at this point, and Stallworth is heard on the video refusing Barton’s request to show her ID.
Alabama Code 15-5-30 states that police may stop any person in a public place if police have reasonable suspicion that that person is committing, has committed or is about to commit a crime and may demand that person’s name, address, and an explanation of his or her actions.
Stallworth was at her home, not in a public place. Regardless, Barton takes out his handcuffs to arrest her when she refuses to show her ID.
The video shows Barton and Stallworth talking on Stallworth’s porch. When Stallworth says she’s going back into her home to put on her shoes in preparation for the arrest, Barton suddenly grabs Stallworth, shoves her son out of the way, and storms into Stallworth’s home.
Stallworth was unarmed and showed no…
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