Black Alabama Woman Allegedly Assaulted By Police Officer After Complaining About White Neighbor

Twyla Stallworth was arrested and charged with obstruction, resisting arrest, and attempting to elude.

Attorneys representing a Black woman in Alabama allegedly assaulted by a police officer in February have spoken out about the videotaped incident, claiming it was a racist act.

Police arrested Twyla Stallworth, 40, after she filed a complaint against her white neighbor’s loud music. The Andalusia resident had called the police several times to complain about her neighbor’s loud music, AL.com reported, but she was ignored, so she intentionally turned on her car alarm to get their attention.

When her neighbor complained about the car alarm, police appeared at Stallworth’s home. Her attorney, Harry Daniels, claimed Officer Grant Barton “threatened Stallworth when he arrived and did not address her multiple complaints.

Daniels alleged Barton began to get aggressive when Stallworth “pointed out the disparity as Barton was returning to [his] police cruiser, suggesting it was racially motivated.” Barton began asking for Stallworth’s ID. Her 18-year-old son started to record the encounter.

In the video, Stallworth says that she doesn’t have to give the officer her ID. “I’m not arguing with you,” Barton responds. ” Show me your ID, or you’re going to jail.”

Barton then arrested her, and threw her onto the couch, said the attorney, who added that Stallowrth did not have to give her identification. She was charged with obstruction, resisting arrest, and attempting to elude after being detained for 15 hours.

“Never mind that Officer Barton needlessly escalated the situation, forcefully entered Ms. Stallworth’s home, and physically assaulted her over a noise complaint,” Daniels said. “Never mind that he arrested her for exercising her constitutional rights, and never mind that he misquoted a law that doesn’t require a woman in her own home to present an ID.

“He was leaving,” Daniels added. “He was walking back to his car, ready to drive away right up until she called out his racism. Calling out racism isn’t illegal. Using your badge to intimidate a 40-year-old mother is.”