The officer lowered his eyes for a moment.
Naomi looked toward the open trunk. One of the shopping bags had fallen onto its side, and a small box had slipped partially out of it. She carefully picked up the bag and placed it beside the others.
The ordinary task she had been performing before Brooks approached now seemed strangely distant.
Her shopping trip had become a confrontation involving physical force, public witnesses, and an official complaint.
But Naomi was thinking about something beyond her own experience.
She knew that her position would make it easier for her to insist on a formal review. She knew that people would be more likely to pay attention when they heard that a federal judge had been assaulted.
That realization troubled her.
What happened to someone who did not have the knowledge, confidence, or resources to demand the same treatment?
What happened when there were no witnesses?
What happened when a person's account was dismissed because an officer's report was accepted without question?
Naomi looked at Brooks again.
Naomi Carter: "I want your full name and badge number."
Officer Brooks: "Brooks. Daniel Brooks. Badge number 582."
Naomi repeated the information quietly.
Naomi Carter: "Thank you. I will include that in my statement."
Brooks glanced toward the entrance ramp.
Naomi Carter: "I also want the body camera footage preserved, along with the shopping center's security recordings."
Officer Brooks: "The department will handle the report."
Naomi Carter: "Then make sure the report accurately reflects what happened."
The officer looked uncomfortable.
Officer Brooks: "I already told dispatch that a supervisor is coming."
Naomi Carter: "Good. I will wait."
A few minutes later, a shopping center security employee approached the group. He carried a radio and looked concerned by the number of people standing near the SUV.
Security Officer: "Is everything all right here?"
Brooks answered before Naomi could speak.
Officer Brooks: "Police matter. We're handling it."
Naomi turned toward the security employee.
Naomi Carter: "I need the control room to preserve all surveillance footage covering this parking space. There has been a physical incident, and several people witnessed it."
The security employee looked at her, then at Brooks.
Security Officer: "Do you need me to contact the control room?"
Naomi Carter: "Yes. Please make sure the footage includes the minutes before the officer approached me, not only what happened afterward."
Security Officer: "I'll contact them now."
He stepped aside and began speaking into his radio.
Brooks watched him walk away.
Officer Brooks: "There's no reason to involve the shopping center."
Naomi Carter: "The incident happened on their property. Their cameras may provide independent evidence."
Brooks remained silent.
The sound of another vehicle entering the parking level echoed through the garage.
A few moments later, the supervisor's patrol vehicle appeared near the entrance. It slowed down and stopped several spaces away from Naomi's SUV.
An older officer stepped out. His uniform displayed the insignia of a field supervisor, and his expression suggested that he had already been informed that the situation was serious.
He looked at Brooks first.
Then he noticed Naomi, the open trunk, the fallen shopping bag, and the group of witnesses holding their phones.
Supervisor: "Officer Brooks, what's going on here?"
Brooks straightened his posture.
Officer Brooks: "I approached the woman because I noticed suspicious activity. She questioned my instructions, and the situation escalated."
The supervisor looked at Naomi.
Supervisor: "Ma'am, can you tell me what happened?"
Naomi held her identification cards in one hand.
Naomi Carter: "I was loading my shopping bags into my vehicle when Officer Brooks approached me. I asked why he was stopping me. He refused to explain. He then struck me and pulled my hair."
The supervisor's expression became more serious.
Supervisor: "Did you receive any medical attention?"
Naomi Carter: "I can speak and stand normally, but I want the physical contact documented. There are several witnesses, and the shopping center has surveillance cameras."
The supervisor nodded.
Supervisor: "All right. We'll need to take statements and preserve the available recordings."
Naomi looked directly at him.
Naomi Carter: "I want this investigated independently. And I want you to understand that I am not asking for special treatment because I am a federal judge."
The supervisor listened carefully.
Naomi Carter: "The same conduct would be unacceptable if I were anyone else. I expect the department to apply the same standards regardless of a person's profession, income, or social position."