Jamarlette Hardy Struck in the Head by Police Officer in Antioch in Waldie Plaza
ANTIOCH, CALIFORNIA (July 10, 2026) –A 41-year-old woman identified as Jamarlette Hardy was attacked by an Antioch police officer in Waldie Plaza.
Antioch police officers are saying that the incident occurred around 9:45 AM on July 1, 2026. Railroad company employees were working to clear the tracks prior to the Fourth of July holiday.
This caused a number of homeless residents to migrate towards Waldie Plaza. Two police officers were attempting to detain Jamarlette Hardy, who was possibly having a mental health crisis.
At some point during the struggle, authorities alleged that she bit one of the officers before being struck in the head. It remains unclear whether the police department is going to conduct any type of internal investigation related to the incident.
Liability for Antioch Police Assaults
Police officers must use force that is proportional to the situation that they are dealing with. A law enforcement agency can be found liable for any instance of excessive force involving one of their officers. According to 42 U.S. Code § 1983, every person who, under the color of law, deprives someone of their rights afforded under the Constitution shall be liable to the injured party in an action at law. There are many ways that a police officer may have used excessive force.
- A police officer may have placed a suspect in an illegal chokehold.
- A police officer may have used an excessive amount of pepper spray or other chemical agent.
- A police officer may have struck or kicked a suspect who was already restrained.
- A police officer may have hit someone who did not pose an immediate risk of harm.
Excessive force can come in many different forms. Fundamentally, force should always be a measure of last resort for officers. But far too often this is not the case. When evaluating whether or not any specific use of force is excessive, courts across California will examine the totality of circumstances leading up to any specific incident. Unfortunately, in many instances, police officers are not following proper protocol when dealing with someone in the midst of a mental health crisis.
Steps to Take After Antioch Police Assaults
There has been a considerable uptick in violence against women involving law enforcement officers. According to the Prison Policy Initiative, “the total number of people experiencing police use of force more than doubled in that time, to 985,300 in 2015. But the increase in use of force was especially dramatic among women: the number of women experiencing police use of force in 2015 was 4.5 times (353%) the number experiencing force in 1999, up from 55,181 to 250,200.” Multiple actions should be taken after any instance of force used by police officers in Antioch.
- It should be determined if the officer involved has had misconduct allegations against them in the past.
- All medical records related to treatment should be collected.
- Body camera footage from the officer involved should be carefully reviewed.
- Victims should consider legal options with an experienced attorney.
Police officers are supposed to be protectors and faithful public servants. In far too many situations, police officers use their authority to needlessly batter vulnerable people. When police departments investigate themselves, they almost always find that their officers did nothing wrong. This is why it’s so important for victims to talk with an experienced attorney. Any person who has been subjected to police brutality may be able to seek some accountability through a constitutional claim.
Investigating Antioch Police Assaults
We at Carrazco Law were very concerned to hear about this use-of-force incident involving Jamarlette Hardy. It is our hope that the victim will be OK and that there will be a thorough investigation into what took place. Police officers are not above the law and need to be held accountable when they step out of line.
Do you need more information about any instance of police brutality in Antioch? Our team of civil rights attorneys is here for you. We are committed to helping people understand their rights and holding the authorities to account for their illegal conduct. Whether you just have any questions or need any other type of assistance, we are here to serve your needs. You can reach out to us anytime at (800) 541-3244.
