North Carolina woman sues police after wrongful arrest

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Tamara Parker, a North Carolina woman, is suing the Gastonia County Police Department for wrongfully arresting her and charging her with identity theft—an ordeal she says turned her life upside down.

She is being represented by attorneys with The Law Offices of Harry M. Daniels, who are preparing to take legal action on her behalf.

Tamara Parker sues Gastonia County Police for wrongful arrest

Parker was arrested at her home on Sept. 1, 2024, and charged with identity theft and attempting to obtain property by false pretenses, according to her attorneys.

Authorities alleged she was involved in a scam involving the fraudulent purchase of two Apple iPhones, which were shipped to an Advance Auto Parts store in May 2024. Two store employees identified Parker as the suspect.

But Parker maintains she visited the store earlier that month—and not on the day the crime occurred. Her lawyers say she was attending her daughter’s kindergarten graduation at the time. According to WCNC, the only description police had of the suspect was a “Black woman.”

The charges were dismissed on June 23 due to insufficient evidence,court records show.

Parker’s attorneys say the ordeal sent her life into a tailspin—costing her a job, good credit, and thousands in legal fees.

Ordeal has turned her life upside down

Parker said she lost her job in December 2024 after being falsely charged, and now faces the looming threat of foreclosure.

“I lost everything … it was very traumatizing,” she told WCNC. “My family kind of fell apart—my job, finances. I had to rely on credit cards just to stay afloat these past six months.”

GoFundMe launched to support Tamara Parker

To cover mounting legal and living expenses, Parker launched a GoFundMe campaign, explaining that her financial situation has only deteriorated. Attorney fees and court costs, she wrote, “have drained what little I had left.”

Though her name has since been cleared, the road ahead remains steep.

“I’m incredibly grateful to finally start looking for a new job,” Parker shared on the fundraising page.

To donate, visit the GoFundMe fundraiser here.