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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WIAT) — The Tuscaloosa Police Department stated Wednesday it is aware of a video circulating on Facebook regarding a Tuesday night arrest.
According to the TPD, officers arrived 3501 Loop Rd. around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday to serve 29-year-old D’ereka Renee Geter Scott, who had arrest warrants for second-degree assault and failing to appear in court on eight outstanding traffic offenses.
The TPD stated its officers knocked on a door and announced they were there over the next 50 minutes. Police claimed they did not receive a response. The TPD mentioned its officers could see Scott and a man it later identified as 33-year-old Timothy Williams turning off lights and moving inside the residence.
Officers decided not to breach the doorway, so they opened an unlocked window of an unoccupied bedroom and called “Tuscaloosa police. Come to the door” for the next five minutes, according to the TPD. The department stated officers at about 8:21 p.m. entered through the window. Scott, who was recording with her phone, immediately met them.
Scott went to the kitchen and refused to follow police orders, per the TPD. Scott and WIlliams allegedly resisted officers who were attempting to take them into custody. An officer saw a child in the residence and transported her to another room for safety.
Scott is charged with one count of resisting arrest, second-degree assault as well as failure to appear in court for three seat belt violations, driving without insurance, following too closely and three speeding tickets. Williams is charged with resisting the arrest of another person.
The TPD stated the second-degree assault charge stems from when a victim reported Scott, who was with another person, broke their front window with a metal pole Nov. 24. The victim alleged Scott used the metal pole to hit her in her ribs and arm. The victim was hospitalized and later obtained the warrant officers were attempting to serve.
In a press release, Tuscaloosa Police Chief Blake Blankley stated he reviewed the events surrounding Scott’s arrest. He asserted all officers involved followed correct procedures while making a lawful arrest.
“The suspect knew officers were outside her residence for nearly an hour,” Blankley stated. “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.”