In a Walmart in Danville, Kentucky, 66 year old John Hardwick (who had been diagnosed with dementia) was mistreated by Walmart employees while on a grocery shopping trip with his wife. They callously mistook John’s confusion (due to his dementia) for attempted shoplifting, and then called the police. But the police were worse. Officer TJ Godbey punched this vulnerable man 6 times, which was caught on video. And then he, along with Danville Police Officer Ben Ray, arrested John. A lawsuit was filed, which I covered about a year ago. That case has now been settled, with the government claiming the high road. But there’s something they’re not telling you, and they can’t be allowed to cover it up, and escape accountability.
Details: https://thecivilrightslawyer.com/2026/03/18/shoplifting-arrest-of-dementia-patient-at-walmart-final-update-city-paid-how-much/
My prior videos on this incident: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iwxui4wNYls https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehNXmlsfmdY https://youtu.be/7PgRk7TDKTc?si=trHZhLi_9-q3yPpP
My prior video on Danville Police Department’s other dementia victim: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPQL9Ehgc7U
Online Petition: https://www.change.org/p/demand-dismissal-of-officer-tj-godbey-and-suspension-of-his-accomplices
Media Report: https://fox56news.com/news/local/settlement-reached-in-danville-arrest-of-dementia-patient-city-promises-reform/
Danville (Kentucky) Police Department: https://www.danvilleky.org/174/Police-Department
Danville PD’s Facebook (ouch, only 1 star): https://www.facebook.com/p/Danville-Police-Department-100083547963107/
Video to submit? https://forms.gle/HmwnDQKvwvYPxe967
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Let's pump up the numbers: https://www.change.org/p/demand-dismissal-of-officer-tj-godbey-and-suspension-of-his-accomplices
John PLEASE RUN FOR LOCAL AND OR STATE OFFICE.
The settlement should have included stripping TJ Godbey of his law enforcement credentials forever. What a fucking POS!
First: Wal-Mart has an insane policy of carding elderly shoppers. You can be obviously 80+ years old, and they still insist you prove you can legally buy alcohol. Second: If you enjoy beating up elderly and helpless people, joining the police department is the best job you can have. Not only can you pursue your ambition, but there are minimal consequences. Nirvana!
I guess this cop has an awfully small wee wee to be able to hit an elderly man one time, let alone six.
Cops beat an old man for not shoplifting.
This is a police force that needs a policy that say not to beat up innocent people.
Even IF he had been under the influence they still used excessive force!!! Period and far as I'm concerned it would still have been an unlawful arrest.
The prosecutor should be in jail
@ 7:55 , before the legalization of Cannabis, the evil police’s favorite Set-up question : I smell marijuana in your breath, how many joints did you smoke?
Today, the evil cop’s favorite Set-up question: I smell alcohol in your breath, how many drinks did you have?
Even where the person did not consume marijuana or alcohol the evil cop would arrest the person on fabricated charges.
Well, what a tough cop with an elderly man with dementia and two other cops holding the guy down let’s punch him six times. I put it out there right here right now anytime that cop wants to come and see me bring it.
Godbey deserves very early, serious case of dementia!!!!!!
This should go to show you someone on drink or on drugs and being an elderly dementia patient, are on in the same- a human being. Oh I’m so thankful for the world waking up.
Public beating & jail time for all officers involved. Nuff said
I will say one thing hes buying beer and all this is because they need all my info instead of looking at my pre-civil rights decrepit ass face and body im talking about me them idiots will shutdown the whole store n call swat instead of pushing 12/18/1960 SEE I JUS DID IT!!!
"He hasn't stolen anything…" "Sounds like enough for shoplifting to me." 🤦🤦â€â™‚🤦â€â™€ðŸ¤¦â€â™‚🤦🤦â€â™‚🤦🤦🤦â€â™‚🤦â€â™€ðŸ¤¦â€â™‚🤦🤦🤦🤦â€â™€ðŸ¤¦â€â™‚🤦â€â™‚🤦â€â™‚🤦â€â™€ðŸ¤¦â€â™‚🤦🤦
When you are a hammer – everything is a nail. The police see everyone as a criminal first – then you must prove you are not.
Bring the marines home and send these fascists to invade Kharg Island
Your articulate updates and ongoing reporting make you a much needed gem in the insane times in which we live. Thank you!
We must protect our elders from thugs of all kinds, cops included.
I am not a young woman, and I'm grateful for ONE female officer who literally saved my life last year. What a rare treasure.
I signed the petition upon the first video exposing Godbey. It didn't take my signature for some reason. Should I try again?
I grew up in a town where that cop would have had to move, saw more than one leave town.
It is a sad statement about our society when younger people (below 40 I think) have no clue as to what elder people go through or any inkling of typical illnesses. Do they not have relatives that have aged? How do they treat them? And, to add insult to injury, being abused by the very people you (as an elder) grew up to trust, to serve and protect.
Kentucky, like many other states, needs to take a long hard look at it self.
Godbey was probably bullied as a child.
Thank goodness….I don't shop at Walmart…..Fortunately there's not one close…. Walmart employees and this instance definitely seem irrational…laxvespa… Thank you for the coverage… I will never shop at walmart ever…3 18 2026…
Godbey? Godbeat?
I would like to express my dissatisfaction but I'm not going to post something that can and would be held against me.
This is what happens when a nation of kids are raised by Xbox and PlayStation.
Honestly I , I’m still a little nervous about shopping at WM, I wait in line for the next cashier. But I’m still afraid of getting that treatment. I’m not gonna survive a beat down like that.