🚨 When the Police Lie: The Truth About What Happened to Me, Quarla Blackwell

On September 30, 2025, the Kinston Police Department publicly accused me—Quarla Blackwell, community organizer, candidate for city council, and lifelong advocate for justice—of arriving at the magistrate’s office and fleeing before officers could serve warrants. That was a lie. And now, I’m setting the record straight.

📞 What Actually Happened

I called 911 and immediately hung up, realizing it wasn’t an emergency. I then called the non-emergency number to ask why police were at my home. I was told to leave my number and someone would call me back.

Major Brandon Turner called me directly. I told him clearly that I was out of town, and he said he would relay that message to officers.

While police were at my home, my friend Makeba Harper, who knew I had just left town, came by to check on my dogs. She was stopped by police while leaving and called me via video chat. I spoke face-to-face with Officer Jones and told him:

• I wasn’t sure when I’d be back.

• If they couldn’t tell me what they wanted over the phone, they would never see me again.

  
  

I never said I was at the magistrate’s office or on my way—not until I fully understood what they wanted.

🧾 The Damage of a False Narrative

KPD’s original post claimed I had arrived and fled. That post was later edited multiple times, each version more misleading than the last. After public pressure, they admitted the error and issued an apology. But the damage was done. Their lie painted me—Quarla Blackwell—as evasive and dishonest, while I was simply protecting myself and demanding transparency.

The little lies they tell add up to a lot of mistrust. And when those lies come from people with badges and authority, they become weapons.

They appear to have hate in their heart. That’s not an accusation—it’s what their actions showed me.

⚖️ Charges in Conflict with Election Law

The charges sworn against me are not only misleading—they are in direct conflict with the decision made by the North Carolina Board of Elections Headquarters, which has already reviewed and cleared MY INVESTIGATION IN HOUSE AND WOULD NOT BE FORWARDING THE CASE FOR PROSECUTITION DUR TO THE FACT THAT THE BOARD OF ELECTION DROPPED THE BALL BY FAILING TO HAVE ME FLAGGED FROM VOTING AND RUNNING.

This contradiction is now part of a pending lawsuit against the City of Kinston and the individuals responsible for the coordinated defamation campaign. That includes those who authored and approved the multiple versions of the KPD Facebook post, clearly designed to embarrass me and damage my reputation.

This wasn’t just a miscommunication. It was a calculated attempt to discredit a Black woman running for office.

🎥 What the Body Cam Will Reveal

When I voluntarily appeared to turn myself in, I was met with aggression—not professionalism. Officer Jones’s behavior was disturbing. The way he growled while placing cuffs on me made me feel deeply uncomfortable. It didn’t sound like a routine arrest—it sounded like someone experiencing a twisted thrill. That moment will be captured on body cam footage, and the public deserves to see it.

This is not how you treat a citizen. This is not how you treat a woman. This is not how you treat Quarla Blackwell.

📣 Call to Action: Demand Accountability Now

This isn’t just about one incident—it’s about a culture of misconduct that’s been allowed to fester. If officers can lie publicly, behave aggressively during arrests, and twist the truth without consequence, then we must demand systemic change.

Here’s what needs to happen immediately:

• Drug test these officers.   If their behavior is erratic, aggressive, or unprofessional, the public has a right to know whether substance use is a factor.

• City Council must audit police files.   There are patterns of misconduct, excessive force, and false reporting buried in those records. Chief Goyette and City Manager Rhonda Barwick have a duty to the public—but instead, they’ve shielded corruption behind closed doors.

• Release the body cam footage.   Let the public see what really happened. Let the footage speak louder than the lies.

• Establish a civilian oversight board.   We need independent eyes on every complaint, every arrest, and every disciplinary file.

  

I am Quarla Blackwell. I did not flee. I did not hide. I showed up. And I will continue to show up—for truth, for justice, and for every resident who’s been misrepresented, mistreated, or silenced.