MEMPHIS, TN— Yet another Memphis Police officer in trouble with the law, this time off-duty officer Margaret Taylor was booked for 3 counts of aggravated assault.
According to the police report, the 55-year old argued with three teens outside her home then slapped one of them. The teens were knocking on doors asking neighbors if they wanted their lawns mowed. Neighbors told ABC24 News the off duty officer would never do what she's accused of and the teens lied to police. The teens also told police, the off-duty officer threatened them by showing her handgun and said she would shoot them if they came back on her property.
A "no trespassing" sign is clearly posted outside the off duty officer’s window. A 16-year-old, 13-year-old, and 10-year- old ignored it and knocked on Margaret Taylor's door Saturday evening.
"They (the juveniles) always ask can we cut your yard. They’re never rude to us but I don't know what they did over there,” said Taylor’s neighbor Heather Geisel.
According to police, Taylor told the kids to get off her porch after they asked if they could mow her lawn. Once they walked away police say Taylor left her house on Dickinson Street, hopped in her car, and drove to Tutwiler Avenue and Stonewall to confront them.
“I don't believe she did that. I don't believe she would flick a cigarette in a child's face and I don't believe she would show a gun,” said another neighbor Shani Sanyika-Brooks. "I don't believe she would pull a gun on anybody."
Not only that, but according to police, Taylor slapped the 13-year-old boy's face and threatened to shoot all of them. Around 7:30pm police officers were flagged down by the 13-year-old’s mother and told their story.
"They must've done something or said something that might've been very irritating to her but I don't think that would be enough to provoke her to do what I'm being told she did,” said Brooks.
Margaret Taylor did not want to talk with us on camera. Her neighbors defended her and said the story just doesn't add up.
“As far as I know that’s out of her character because she’s always really sweet and waves at us," said Geisel.
Taylor joined the Memphis Police Department in 2001. She's had a clean record until now. She faces 3 counts of aggravated assault.
"She's just not that kind of person. So I was surprised to hear that they said Margaret did those things,” said Brooks. “I can't believe that about my neighbor, I know my neighbor."
Taylor is relieved of duty pending the outcome of the investigation. She is expected to appear in court Monday morning.
