The Tuscaloosa Police Department is standing behind its officers after a video showing them entering a home through a window spread virally online Wednesday.

In a post on social media, D’ereka Renee Geter Scott said officers who did not present a search warrant entered her home through the window of her children's bedroom to arrest her.

Scott said she was hiring an attorney and said her interactions with the police department were far from over.

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TPD CHIEF DEFENDS OFFICERS AFTER REVIEW

On Wednesday afternoon, a TPD spokesperson said Chief Brent Blankley has reviewed the details of the arrest and stands behind his officers.

"TPD is aware of a video circulating on Facebook today that shows 35 seconds of an arrest made Tuesday night. Tuscaloosa Police 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," they said.

The felony charge comes after a November incident in which police said Scott took a metal rod and broke through the front window of another woman's home before beating her with it, leaving the victim hospitalized.

"Officers knocked and announced their presence dozens of times over the next 50 minutes without response," TPD said. "During that time, they could see Scott and a man later identified as Timothy Williams, turning off lights and moving inside the residence. They never came to the door."

TPD said instead of breaching the door by force, they opened an unlocked window of an empty bedroom and shouted for the adults inside to come to the door - but they never complied.

"They entered through the window at 8:21 p.m., and were immediately met by Scott, who was recording with her phone. Scott retreated to the kitchen, refusing to comply with officers," TPD said through a spokesperson. "Both Scott and Williams actively resisted as officers attempted to take them into custody. Upon entering the apartment, one officer located a child in the residence and took her to another room for her safety."

After entering the Loop Road home Tuesday, TPD arrested Scott on the felony assault charge and added one count of resisting arrest. She was also charged with failure to appear in court for three seat belt violations, driving without insurance, following to closely and three speeding tickets.

The man in the home, Williams, was charged with resisting the arrest of another person.

In a statement, Blankley said he is defending the officers involved.

“The suspect knew officers were outside her residence for nearly an hour. 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," he said. "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 RESPONDS

The Tuscaloosa Chapter of the NAACP is also involved, and their President Lisa Young issued a press release on Wednesday demanding transparency about the arrest.

"The Tuscaloosa County NAACP is calling for full transparency from the City of Tuscaloosa and the Tuscaloosa Police Department (TPD) following a deeply disturbing video that has surfaced, showing TPD officers entering the home of a young woman," Young wrote. "The video, which has sparked widespread concern, captures the sound of a distressed child crying in the background as officers gain entry through a back window. This incident could have had devastating consequences - for the young woman, her child, and even the officers involved. 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 TPD Chief Brent Blankley to discuss this incident.

• The immediate release of all available body camera footage and audio from the officers involved.

• Full disclosure of the charge or writ that authorized this level of police intervention.

• A copy of TPD's policies and procedures regarding police interactions with the public, which has 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," Young wrote. "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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