Breshari Faulkner, a 31-year-old African American mother from Senatobia, Mississippi, was forcibly arrested by police in front of her children on Mother’s Day after being confronted in a Walmart parking lot while parked in a handicap space.
The arrest occurred on May 11 in Senatobia, where Faulkner says she was waiting for her disabled grandmother, who was inside the store at the time. A valid handicap placard was visible on her dashboard, though Mississippi law requires that the disabled individual be present in the vehicle when parked.
According to Fox 13 Memphis, body-worn camera footage released by the Senatobia Police Department shows an officer approaching Faulkner’s vehicle and questioning whether she had the right to use the handicap space.
Faulkner explained that her grandmother had gone into the store and offered to move the car. Despite this, the officer insisted on seeing her ID, warning that failure to comply would result in arrest. Faulkner questioned why she was being detained and repeatedly stated she was willing to move.
The situation quickly escalated when the officer accused Faulkner of having unrestrained children in the car. Faulkner responded that she had unbuckled them after parking. She expressed concern for her safety and repeatedly requested a supervisor, claiming the officer was being aggressive and hostile. The officer then opened the door, grabbed her arm, and warned her not to resist as she pulled her from the vehicle.
Faulkner can be heard crying and pleading on the ground as the officer attempted to handcuff her while pointing a taser. At one point, Faulkner yelled that she was in pain and asked onlookers for help. As backup officers arrived, the arrest continued with Faulkner kicking toward the vehicle while claiming the officer was twisting her arm. She was eventually cuffed and held on the pavement, with her children still inside the car nearby.
Senatobia Police later issued a public statement saying the encounter could have ended with a warning or citation, but claimed Faulkner’s actions escalated the situation. The department released multiple angles of body-camera footage to provide transparency and emphasized their commitment to fairness. “It would not be fair to our officers, or the parties involved, to put out a hasty collaboration just to appease the few,” the statement read.
