Lexington Police released bodycam footage of Councilmember Tayna Fogle’s arrest from March
By: The Lexington Police Department released the bodycam footage of Councilmember Tayna Fogle’s arrest from last March on the same day her charges were dismissed.
Councilmember Tayna Fogle, who represents Council District 1, which includes parts of downtown, was arrested at an AT&T store on March 10.
Fogle was charged with third-degree criminal trespassing, menacing, and resisting arrest.
According to court records, all charges against Fogle were dismissed Tuesday.
The above video lasts about 25 minutes, showing three different perspectives of the arrest.
There is in-store surveillance footage from AT&T and body cam footage from a Sergeant Evely. But the bulk of the encounter is captured by Officer Sharp, who was the first to respond.
The video starts with Officer Sharp arriving to the AT&T Store and talking with a store employee about the situation.
Councilmember Fogle told us shortly after the arrest that she had a prior negative encounter with the officer. But the video indicates that he didn’t recognize her upon arrival.
Officer Sharp then gave her several chances to walk out of the store.
“I’m going to ask you to leave,” said Ofc. Sharp. “If you refuse to leave, you’re going to go to jail”
“Lock up the councilmember, you go right ahead,” Councilmember Fogle responded.
Fogle never explicitly refused to leave, but often ignored the officer’s questions and exchanged some strong words.
I caught up with the councilmember at the Nehemiah Action event tonight to ask about the body cam being released.
“Well I know the police have a footage, but I have a footage too, and it’s not matching up,” Fogle said.
The charges of criminal trespassing, menacing, and resisting arrest were all dismissed by a judge Tuesday. With that decision made, Fogle says she hopes to put that Sunday in March behind her and move forward.
“The truth and the evidence was presented,” said Fogle. “I think we both learned on both sides, and I don’t expect to have another incident like this.”