Twins allegedly arrested for recording police shooting

PEARL, MS (Mississippi News Now) - Twins living in the Colony Park Apartments say they were unlawfully arrested by Pearl Police Tuesday after watching and recording the shooting investigation at their apartment complex.

The teenagers were transported to Brandon and held for hours before being released.

Now, the family wants to know why.

"I was sitting here when I heard the shots fired, and I ducked right here," said Shanell Madison, pointing to the floor.

The Colony Park Apartment resident said she and her twin brother Terrell were on their apartment balcony when Tuesday's tragic police shooting unfolded.

But she said minutes later they were being manhandled by officers after they saw her brother recording the scene with his cell phone.

"The police came up here after they took his phone. They slammed him down and arrested him, and I'm like 'Why are y'all arresting him', and then they grabbed me and slammed me also and arrested me," said Shanell Madison.

She said they didn't know why they were targeted in their own home.

"Basically it's retaliation," said Shanell's mother.

Karen Madison was on the phone with her daughter when she said she heard the officers burst through her apartment door and begin cursing her children.

The twins' mother believes they were arrested because she moved her truck after she saw Pearl Police using it as a shield during the shooting.

"I moved my vehicle, and I'm pretty sure that upset him and when my kids came out they were on the balcony and my son taking the picture, filming or whatever he was doing with the phone probably upset him," said Karen Madison.

Madison said officers at the scene refused to tell her why they were taken into custody.

She said she asked many officers who were at the scene, and she was never given any answers.

The 19 year olds were handcuffed and transported to the Rankin County Jail.

"Lieutenant comes down tells me 'Yeah I have your kids here. They're safe, but they're gonna be here until I say they can be released'," said the angry mother.

They were released on their own recognizance around seven o'clock and Madison said she learned at that time they were charged with disorderly conduct.

Our calls and emails to the Pearl Police Department for comment were not returned.

Madison said the police department returned her son's phone but kept the SIM card.

Shanell and Terrell Madison have a May 17 Pearl court date to answer to the disorderly conduct charges.

Their mother said they now have to fight fines and a possible criminal record.