A 65-year-old grandmother, Vivian Burks, claims she was subjected to excessive force by Carthage, Mississippi, police officers on July 23 while she was reading her Bible and preparing a sermon at Lincoln Park.
According to a press release from the Carlos Moore Law Group, Burks was tased eight times and sustained multiple injuries after an altercation that began with an expired car tag.
Burks, a resident of Leake County, recounted that she was approached by an officer who noticed her expired tag.
She explained that she provided the officer with her current tag, license, and registration. The officer then offered to attach the tag to her car, and another officer arrived at the scene.
Feeling uneasy, Burks attempted to leave, but was ordered to “step away from the vehicle.”
When Burks refused to let the officers search her car, citing a lack of legal grounds, the situation escalated.
In a video interview posted on Facebook, Burks emotionally described how the officers threw her to the ground and tased her repeatedly whenever she told them that she was hurt or unwell.
She stated that even after informing the officers and EMTs that she couldn’t breathe and needed medical attention, she was dismissed and subsequently booked into the Lee County Jail.
Burks claims she did not receive proper medical care until she was seen by the jail’s medical staff, who advised that she be taken to the hospital. However, fearing further mistreatment, she refused to be transported by the deputies.
Burks’ attorney, Carlos Moore, condemned the officers’ actions, describing them as a severe abuse of power. He called for the immediate release of the officers’ body camera footage to ensure accountability and transparency.
“This appalling incident highlights a severe abuse of power and a blatant disregard for human dignity and rights,” Moore stated. “Our client, a 65-year-old grandmother, was treated with unimaginable brutality while peacefully engaging in her own personal activities.”
Carthage Police Chief Billy McMillan confirmed Burks’ arrest on charges of disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and marijuana possession.
McMillan claimed the officers detected the smell of marijuana from Burks’ car, which led to the traffic stop and subsequent actions. He has not addressed the allegations of excessive force.
Burks, visibly shaken in the video, displayed Taser marks on her back and other injuries, expressing the lasting impact of the ordeal.
“I’m deeply hurt and shaken by what happened,” she said. “The pain is bad, but the emotional and mental scars are even worse.”
