Bainbridge police encounter at Walmart leads to legal action by elderly woman

A 71-year-old Black woman, Patricia Tarver, and her daughter, Amita Spear, are seeking legal counsel following a violent encounter with police at a Walmart in Bainbridge, Georgia, on August 18.

The incident reportedly began after Tarver was threatened by another woman while shopping. When Spear arrived to assist, an argument ensued involving a woman allegedly holding a Taser. According to reports, Bainbridge Public Safety Officer Jonathan Taylor approached the pair. Tarver alleges that Taylor twisted her around, picked her up, and slammed her to the ground before sitting on her and pressing his knees into her back.

Tarver and Spear were cited for disorderly conduct. Tarver reported suffering a panic attack and claimed she was denied medication while at the police department. Following the incident, Tarver was taken to an emergency room where doctors documented shoulder injuries and described the video footage as physical abuse of an elderly person. Tarver has since been prescribed antidepressants and referred for counseling. An internal investigation is reportedly underway to determine if laws or policies were violated.