Brooks noticed the attention, but rather than explaining his actions, he raised his voice.
Officer Brooks: "You need to stop acting like you own this place! Hands where I can see them!"
Naomi stared at him.
She had encountered rude people before. She had dealt with difficult business negotiations, arrogant executives, and individuals who believed that wealth gave them the right to look down on others.
But this was different.
A police officer was standing in front of her, issuing commands without clearly explaining why he had approached her in the first place.
Naomi Carter: "I'm not acting like I own anything. I'm standing beside my own vehicle. You can speak to me without shouting."
Officer Brooks: "Watch your attitude."
Naomi Carter: "Then watch your behavior."
Brooks stepped closer.
Officer Brooks: "Hands on the car."
Naomi looked at him, then at the side of her SUV.
Naomi Carter: "Why?"
Officer Brooks: "Because I told you to."
Naomi Carter: "That isn't an explanation."
The officer's face tightened. He appeared increasingly irritated by her refusal to follow his instructions without question.
Officer Brooks: "You people always want to challenge everything."
Naomi's expression changed immediately.
Naomi Carter: "What exactly do you mean by 'you people'?"
Brooks ignored the question.
Officer Brooks: "Turn around and put your hands on the vehicle."
Naomi did not move.
Naomi Carter: "I have not threatened you. I have not touched you. I have not done anything wrong. If you believe there is a legitimate reason to stop me, explain it."
The officer looked around. More shoppers had begun watching the confrontation. One woman near a concrete pillar reached into her handbag and took out her phone.
Brooks seemed determined to end the conversation by asserting control.
Officer Brooks: "I'm not going to repeat myself again."
Naomi Carter: "Then you should listen to what I'm saying."
The next few seconds unfolded so quickly that several people nearby struggled to understand what they had witnessed.
Brooks suddenly struck Naomi across the face. The unexpected blow forced her head to turn. Before she could regain her balance, he grabbed her long black hair and pulled her head backward.
A shopping bag slipped from her hand and landed on the concrete floor.
A woman near the elevator gasped.
Female Bystander: "What are you doing? Let her go!"
Naomi struggled to free herself from the officer's grip.
Naomi Carter: "Get your hands off me!"
Brooks released her after a moment, but he remained directly in front of her, his expression still aggressive.
Officer Brooks: "I told you to cooperate!"
Naomi stepped backward, one hand moving toward her hair. Her face showed shock and anger, but she refused to let the officer see her panic.
Naomi Carter: "You just hit me. What is wrong with you?"
Officer Brooks: "You were resisting."
Naomi Carter: "I was asking you a question!"
Officer Brooks: "You should have followed instructions."
Naomi looked at the people who had gathered nearby. Several phones were now pointed toward them. One man had moved closer to the next row of vehicles so he could record without standing directly in the officer's path.
Naomi took a slow breath.
Naomi Carter: "Everyone here saw what you did."
Brooks looked toward the witnesses.
Officer Brooks: "Put those phones away. This is an official police matter."
Male Bystander: "We're recording what happened."
Officer Brooks: "I didn't ask you to record anything."
Naomi turned toward the witnesses.
Naomi Carter: "Please keep recording. Don't delete anything."
Brooks immediately looked back at her.
Officer Brooks: "You don't give orders here."
Naomi Carter: "Neither do you, unless you have a lawful reason."
For a moment, the officer seemed unable to decide how to respond. He had expected her to become frightened and obedient after the physical contact. Instead, she continued speaking clearly and demanding an explanation.
Naomi glanced toward her handbag, which was resting near the open trunk.
Naomi Carter: "I'm going to take out my identification."
Officer Brooks: "Don't reach for anything without telling me."
Naomi Carter: "I just told you what I'm doing."
She moved slowly and visibly, reaching into the handbag. Brooks watched her closely as she opened a small black wallet and searched through its contents.
The garage had become noticeably quieter. People who had been walking toward the elevators were now standing at a distance, watching the exchange.
Naomi removed two official identification cards.