An elderly woman was arrested at her home in Alabama and taken to a city jail a day after she berated the small town’s mayor and argued with a city employee at a council meeting.
Novilee Williams, 79, was charged with disorderly conduct and harassment after an exchange of testimony during the public comment portion of the Dec. 4 meeting, which was recorded and later posted to the city’s Facebook page.
“That’s a shame and a shame,” Tarrant Councilwoman Veronica Bandy Freeman told AL.com, who the outlet said broke down in tears upon hearing of Williams’ arrest.
“And I feel so bad. That could be someone’s grandmother, a great grandmother.”
In the video, Williams can be seen in a mostly empty boardroom sitting behind a woman identified as Shayla Myricks, an accountant for Tarrant, Ala., a small town of about 6,000 outside Birmingham.
As Williams lashed out at Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton, accusing him of corruption over the recent suspension and reinstatement of Tarrant Police Chief Wendell Major, Myricks repeatedly turned in his chair to challenge the septuagenarian’s claims.
“Turn around, baby,” Williams admonishes Myricks at one point in the video.
Moments later, Myricks again turned to face Williams and gestured with his hand, which Williams gently refused while repeating his request to turn away.
“Don’t put your hand on me, lady,” Myricks can be heard saying in the video.
According to AL.com, the physical contact led Myricks to file misdemeanor charges against Williams, who alleged he “engaged in fighting and threatening behavior in a public place.”
A confrontation between a resident and a city accountant led to a police report being filed when the 79-year-old man pushed his hand away. Tarrant City
A police report obtained by the outlet said Williams “did, without lawful authority, order Myricks to turn around” and “bobbed Myricks, making physical contact, in an attempt to force him to do so.”
An email sent to Myricks by The Post seeking comment was not immediately returned Sunday afternoon.
In the final part of the video, Williams stands for a moment with her hands on her hips as she looks at Myricks.
After the meeting ended, a uniformed police officer approached Williams and he presented him with identification, which he produced from a fanny pack on his waist.
The officer takes his ID and exits the frame when the recording ends.
According to AL.com, Williams was a regular fixture at Tarrant council meetings and often sparred with Newton’s mayor, who was not in the room during the public comment period.
Novilee Williams, 79, was charged with disorderly conduct and harassment and taken to the city jail after an exchange of testimony during a Tarrant, Ala., City Council meeting. Tarrant City
Newton later told the outlet that while he was not involved in Williams’ arrest, “you can’t go put your hands on people.”
“I wasn’t there, and he was arrested when he put his hands on the city accountant. It was the city accountant who wanted to prosecute him. I didn’t even know it was happening until people started contacting me,” he said.
Newton could not immediately be reached by email.
Williams declined to speak about the incident to AL.com but said he has retained an attorney.
“Everything is fine, and I hold no grudge against Wayman and the young lady,” Williams told AL.com after his arrest. “I pray for them.”
Speaking to the outlet, Councilman Freeman vowed to “fight for” Williams.
“There are some rules for some and then there are rules for others,” he said.
“I can only follow my experience. When certain people are attacked, that’s a problem. They went too far in doing that to Ms Williams.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
