DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT) – The Decatur Police Department (DPD) released a statement saying a video showing part of the arrest of a mother and son at Walmart was posted on social media.
In a press release issued Monday, DPD said the incident occurred on Friday, Dec. 8, at approximately 4 p.m., when an off-duty uniformed officer working security at Walmart found 29-year-old Marquez Daniel Ruiz in a vehicle. The incident occurred when he witnessed the incident. parking.
Authorities said Lewis had an active arrest warrant for failure to pay child support through the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office.
DPD said Lewis was sitting in the driver’s seat of the vehicle and did not exit the vehicle despite being told there was a warrant.
“After multiple attempts to get Lewis to voluntarily comply, officers broke a window in order to arrest Lewis. Lewis actively resisted arrest and struggled with officers. During the initial encounter, as well as online “Before the viral video begins, the officer was punched by Lewis, fracturing his orbital bone,” the department said.
According to DPD, Lewis’ mother followed the officer while holding her cellphone and moved within a few feet of the officer. Her press release said her officer then ordered her to back up, pushed her back and knocked her cell phone out of her hand.
After a second officer arrived, Lewis was arrested and charged with second-degree assault, resisting arrest, attempted escape, and third-degree criminal mischief. He is being held in the Morgan County Jail and his bail is set at $15,900.
Tonda Rochelle Lewis was also arrested and charged with obstruction of government business. She was booked into the Morgan County Jail on a $300 bond.
Decatur Police Chief Todd Pinion spoke about the arrest in a release.
“An arrest warrant is a judge’s order for a police officer to arrest a person. A person who is told by a police officer that he or she is under arrest has a legal obligation to comply with the arrest. Although we will investigate all aspects of the arrest to determine whether policy and training was followed, what is clear is that a person’s refusal to comply with a lawful arrest may result in more serious criminal charges being filed against the officer. You were injured. If you believe the police officer’s arrest is invalid, accept the arrest and then take legal action. Resisting arrest poses great risk to everyone involved and is illegal. And while anyone can record a police officer in public, they cannot do so in a way that obstructs the officer or endangers their safety.”
Decatur Police Chief Todd Pinion
The injured officer has been placed on paid leave and is recuperating at home, the department said.