Attorney Says Black Winston-Salem Man Was Assaulted During Cooks Flea Market Arrest

A Winston-Salem attorney for a man whose arrest sparked outrage online says police clearly used excessive force against his client.

Charles Moody was arrested Saturday at Cooks Flea Market after staff alleged he refused to wear a face mask. 

Video circulating of the incident shows a white sheriff's deputy lifting up Moody, who is Black, while physically restraining him.  A struggle ensued until Moody was handcuffed while pressed against a store counter. 

At a press conference today recorded by WXII-TV, Moody's attorney, James Quander, said many other people at the flea market were not wearing masks that day, and that his client was unfairly singled out. 

“Mr. Moody was physically assaulted by a sheriff's deputy prior to any attempted de-escalation," said Quander. "This episode at Cooks Flea Market represents yet again another sight of a black man being subject to the violent propensities of law enforcement.”

Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough held a press conference earlier this week in support of the arresting deputy. He and other Black community leaders said body camera footage revealed Moody had repeatedly refused to wear a mask or leave the premises. Quander said he has not seen that video, but would not object to it being publicly released.