A West Monroe man was arrested after allegedly hitting a cop with his car and resisting arrest after refusing to wear a mask inside a Walmart. West Monroe Police Chief Jeff Terrell says when 64-year old Ricky Taylor refused a Walmart employee’s request to wear a mask a police officer working detail for Walmart intervened.
“Walmart requested that the officer tell this person that they were no longer welcome in the store, so basically they put that person on a trespass notice,” says Terrell.
Authorities say Taylor had a verbal altercation with the officer, refused to give to his identification, left the store, and got into his car, and then it got physical.
“The officer was recording the license plate number on his vehicle, and at that point Mr. Taylor got in his vehicle and at that point he bumped the officer,” says Terrell. A second officer was called to make the arrest and a struggle ensued.
The suspect reportedly said he had a medical condition that prevents him from wearing a mask and he could not see the officer behind his vehicle. Terrell says if Taylor really had a condition he could have just done curbside pickup.
“Their business is private property and the business has the right to make requirements like this of their customers, so they are requiring all customers to wear masks,” says Terrell.
Taylor was booked on charges of resisting an officer, aggravated assault with a motor vehicle, and disturbing the peace.
Story by Brooke Thorington.
Comments