TULSA, Okla. — The mother of 21-year-old Tyler Unique McClain of Tulsa is speaking out after bodycam video shows police arresting Tyler. An arrest that Civil Rights attorneys call unconstitutional.
Tyler was in a car accident in May of 2020, after hydroplaning. Federal lawsuit documents against Sebastian County Sheriff’s Department and Greenwood Police Department out of Arkansas said when police arrived Tyler seemed confused and disoriented. She was later arrested.
The lawsuit is for police brutality and wrongful arrest.
Then on May 14th, 2020, the accident happened and she was arrested. Civil Rights attorney John Burris said Tyler didn’t have drugs or alcohol in her system and had no weapons. He said Tyler was wrongfully arrested, shackled at the feet and tased after being restrained.
Talisha said her daughter used to be very active in the community, church, mowed lawns as a teenager, and started a cupcake business to help Talisha as she battled breast cancer. She graduated Union High School in 2019. Tyler then attended OSU Culinary before she and a friend moved to Arkansas.
Talisha said the bodycam videos break her heart.
“She wasn’t a felon. She didn’t commit a crime,” Talisha said.
Tyler spoke at a news conference Wednesday afternoon outside of the Greenwood Cultural Center.
“I’m a victim. I’m not a suspect. My life was put in danger,” Tyler said.
Tyler said she needed medical attention from the accident but was treated as a criminal instead.
“When that was happening, I felt vulnerable and no way out. There was no one there to help me and only way I could get out was to scream and cry and my voice was not heard, so today I’m here for my voice to be heard,” she said.
Tyler and Talisha are demanding justice.
“Our tax money goes to people like this that assault people people, that watch kids in school get killed and don’t do anything. These are the people that protect us. We can’t call police for anything so who do we call? Who do they protect? I’m tired of it,” Talisha said.
FOX23 reached out to the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Department and Greenwood Police Department for comment. We have not heard back yet.
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