UPDATE(1/21/2026):
The Valdosta Police Department has released more details surrounding the arrests following viral videos circulating online.
VPD says five people were arrested:
• 18yr old male – Two counts of Felony Obstruction, Misdemeanor Marijuana
• 18yr old female - Misdemeanor Obstruction.
• 18yr old male - Misdemeanor Obstruction.
• 17yr old male - Felony Obstruction.
• 15yr old male - Felony Obstruction.
They say on Sunday, January 18th, VPD officers working extra duty for the Valdosta Housing Authority conducted a traffic stop in a parking lot inside of Ora Lee West. They say that while officers were working the traffic stop and investigating the presence of drugs inside the vehicle, a crowd began to gather.
VPD says several verbal commands were given to the crowd to back up as they were interfering with the traffic stop investigation. The report says that as arriving officers were attempting to walk the individuals away from the scene, an officer attempted to detain an 18-year-old male who was obstructing the investigation. They say the teen ran away and went into an apartment that wasn't his.
The report says that when the officer went inside the apartment, the teen physically resisted despite being given multiple commands and opportunities to comply. VPD says that as the officer was dealing with the 18-year-old, other people, many of whom they say were at the traffic stop, arrived at the apartment and began to get in the way of the officer's efforts in detaining the teen, resulting in the officer calling for assistance.
The report says other officers responded to the apartment to assist. They say several bystanders continued to interfere with efforts by law enforcement to detain the teen, including, but not limited to, attempts to pull offenders away from officers, push officers, as well as stepping between them. VPD says, as one portion of the video demonstrates, one individual wrapped around an offender to prevent an arrest.
The report says the event inside the apartment lasted 6.5 minutes, which they say is longer than the clips that have been circulating on social media.
VPD is once again reiterating that they're aware of the videos that are circulating online and that, due to complaints about the force used by the officers to make the arrests, the VPD has requested the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to conduct an independent investigation.
They say if anyone has any information or inquiries in reference to the incident, please contact the GBI Thomasville Office at 229-225-4090.
Original:
A viral video showing Valdosta Police officers making several arrests is now raising serious questions about use of force and accountability.
- The Valdosta Police Department referred the incident to the Office of Professional Standards for an independent internal investigation.
- Kiera Reed reports multiple officers entered her apartment, detaining her children, including one underage son, without any alleged explanation.
- Watch the video below to hear from Reed and the VPD.
BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:
I'm Malia Thomas, your neighborhood news reporter here in Valdosta, taking a closer look at a viral video that has several community members questioning the use of force by the Valdosta Police Department.
The incident began outside an apartment complex, where another individual was in the parking lot. Kiera Reed says her teenage sons were nearby, watching what was happening.
"People just been around me and looking to see what's going on," Reed said.According to Reed, officers told her sons to stay in the area, but when they walked away, two to three officers followed them. Multiple officers then entered her apartment. Reed claims there was no explanation for their actions, and the situation quickly escalated.
"They had two, three officers around my kids at one time," she said. "They let my underage son go, but the rest were detained in my apartment."Reed went to the police station afterward but says no one informed her that she needed to come in. Her underage son was briefly in a patrol car before being returned home.
The widely shared video shows a chaotic scene, fueling accusations of excessive force. In response, the Valdosta Police Department issued a statement:
"The incident has been referred to the Office of Professional Standards for an independent internal investigation and review, in accordance with departmental policy."As the investigation continues, Reed says she is pursuing accountability and seeking answers about what happened in her apartment.
In Valdosta, I’m Malia Thomas, reporting for ABC 27.
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