Two Charged, NAACP Seeks Answers After Clip Of TPD Arrest Circulates On Social Media

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Tuscaloosa Police Department commented Wednesday afternoon on a video circulating on Facebook that shows an arrest warrant being conducted Tuesday night.

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The choppy 35-second video appears to show at least one TPD officer entering through a window, as a woman can be heard at one point saying there was a child in the house and that officers were pointing a gun at her face.

TPD spokeswoman Stephanie Taylor told local media that officers initially went to 3501 Loop Road at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday to serve D’ereka Renee Geter Scott, 29, with warrants for felony second-degree assault and failing to appear in court on eight outstanding traffic offenses.

She said officers knocked and announced their presence dozens of times over the next 50 minutes without response but could see Scott and a man, later identified as Timothy Williams, turning off lights and moving inside the residence without answering the door.

Taylor went on to say that instead of breaching and damaging the doorway, officers opened an unlocked window of an unoccupied bedroom and continued to shout "Tuscaloosa Police, come to the door" for the next five minutes.

Officers reportedly entered through the window at 8:21 p.m., and were immediately met by Scott, who was recording with her phone.

Scott allegedly refused to comply with officers and retreated to the kitchen, with TPD saying that Scott and Williams actively resisted as officers attempted to take them into custody.

An officer also located a child in the apartment and took her to another room for her safety.

Taylor said the second-degree assault charge originated from a Nov. 24, 2024, incident where the victim reported that Scott, accompanied by another individual, broke the victim's front window with a metal pole she then used to strike her in the ribs and arm.

The victim was hospitalized for her injuries but later obtained the warrant officers were attempting to serve Tuesday night.

Scott is now charged with one count of resisting arrest and the felony assault charge, along with failure to appear in court for three seat belt violations, driving without insurance, following to closely and three speeding tickets.

TPD charged Williams with resisting the arrest of another person.

Tuscaloosa Police Chief Brent Blankley told local media on Wednesday that he had reviewed the incident and that all of the officers involved followed correct procedures while making a lawful arrest.

“The suspect knew officers were outside her residence for nearly an hour," he said. "They had seen her and spoken to her through an open window, but she ignored multiple opportunities to come outside or even engage with officers. Instead, she chose to not comply and created a situation that forced officers to enter her home to take her into custody. Our officers will continue to protect our community, enforce our laws and arrest violent offenders.”

NAACP Calls For Transparency

The Tuscaloosa County NAACP also responded to the video circulating online by calling for full transparency from the City of Tuscaloosa and TPD.

The group cited the widespread concern in the wake of a video that captures the sound of a distressed child crying in the background as officers gain entry through a back window.

Tuscaloosa County NAACP President Lisa Young said the incident could have had devastating consequences for the young woman, her child and even the officers involved.

She then said the public deserves to know why officers entered a private residence in this manner and what policies guided their actions.

The Tuscaloosa County NAACP is formally requesting a meeting with Mayor Walt Maddox and Blankley to discuss this incident, along with the immediate release of all available body camera footage and audio from the officers involved.

The advocacy group is also demanding full disclosure of the charge or writ that authorized this level of police intervention and a copy of TPD's policies and procedures regarding police interactions with the public.

Young said the policies and procedures have been previously requested but not provided.

"As an organization committed to justice and accountability, we cannot accept vague reassurances that officers acted within 'departmental policy,' without access to the policies themselves, the people of Tuscaloosa deserve clarity and accountability, not secrecy," she said. "The NAACP will continue to advocate for justice, accountability, and the protection of civil rights in Tuscaloosa. We urge city officials to take immediate action to restore trust in the community by providing transparency the public rightfully demands."

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