BAINBRIDGE, Ga. (WALB) — Patricia Tarver, 72, was booked Oct. 23 on a misdemeanor charge of obstruction of an officer, according to booking records. The charge follows an Aug. 18 incident at a Walmart in Bainbridge. Her family said they believe the charge stems from legal action they’re pursuing against Bainbridge Public Safety.

ORIGINAL VIDEO OF INCIDENT

Tarver’s daughter, Stephanie Ware, said the family has obtained an attorney. Ware said a lawsuit against Bainbridge Public Safety and Walmart is in the works.

Warrant and arrest

Booking records list Bainbridge Public Safety as the arresting agency. They show an arrest time of 1:01 p.m. Oct. 23 and a charge of obstruction of an officer, a misdemeanor.

According to the family, they learned an arrest warrant had been issued for Tarver while meeting with their attorney. Tarver’s daughter says the attorney informed them her mother was being charged with obstruction of an officer.

Tarver turned herself in Oct. 23 with her attorney and Ware present, according to Ware.

Ware said Tarver had a panic attack in the attorney’s office when she learned of the warrant. Ware said after the meeting, family members took turns spending the night with Tarver because she reportedly said she did not want to live anymore. Ware also said Tarver had another panic attack in the car outside the police department, and that officers laughed at Tarver during the panic attack she reportedly had at the department.

What the family says happened at Walmart

According to an earlier Bainbridge Public Safety report, an officer working detail on Aug. 18 at the Walmart on E Alice Street cited Tarver and another daughter, Amita Spear, with disorderly conduct.

Ware said the family reviewed Walmart surveillance video and police body cam footage at the attorney’s office. She said the Walmart video has no audio. According to family, they watched the footage after Tarver turned herself in.

Ware said the footage shows Tarver went into the store to get a phone card. Ware said Tarver’s purse fell off her shoulder, and Tarver tried to pull it up while an officer pulled her other arm. WALB has reached out to the family’s attorney to obtain a copy of the surveillance video from Walmart. We are waiting to hear back.

Ware said officers “body slammed” her mother. Tarver said an officer pushed his knee into her back. She said she wears a back brace.

Ware said the other woman involved in the altercation had been banned from Walmart. She said she did not know how long the ban lasted and gave the paperwork to the family’s attorney.

Injuries and ongoing treatment

Ware said Tarver has a torn rotator cuff and must schedule surgery. She said the family had delayed scheduling it until Tarver turned herself in. Ware said she believes the injury happened when an officer pulled Tarver’s arms behind her back.

An earlier report said Tarver’s shoulder was swollen and required MRIs. It said her hospital discharge paperwork described the incident as “physical abuse of the elderly.”

Tarver said she’s in counseling and therapy and sees several doctors. She said her anxiety medication was increased from 5 milligrams to 25 milligrams.

Tarver said she shakes when she sees a police car and rarely leaves her home.

“I’ll never be the same no more,” Tarver said.

Department and Walmart response

Ware said she sent the video of the altercation at Walmart to the mayor and the police chief the night of the incident, and filed a complaint at city hall. She said she has not received a response from either. Ware said she wants the officers held accountable and to receive training.

“I want those two officers to be held accountable. That’s the main thing,” Ware said.

Bainbridge Public Safety Chief Redell Walton said in a phone interview that he cannot comment because the matter is in litigation. He said he is leaving it to the attorneys. Walton said the matter remains active and ongoing.

An earlier report said Walton confirmed an internal investigation led by Capt. Wembley.

A Walmart spokesperson issued this statement:

“The safety of our associates and customers is a top priority. We defer any further questions to law enforcement.”

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