Tavon T Talley, 26

Hanover, Maryland
July 07, 2014

Agencies: Anne Arundel County Police Department Maryland | Valor Security Services

Cause of death: Not Yet Known


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Last updated: almost 6 years ago

Overview

The family of a suspected shoplifter who drowned in 2014 near Arundel Mills Mall has filed a $20 million lawsuit against the mall's security for allegedly chasing him to his death.

The family of Tavon Talley filed the lawsuit against Valor Security Services and Mydatt Services in Baltimore City Circuit Court in February. This past spring, a judge denied a motion by the defendants to transfer the case to Anne Arundel Circuit Court and allowed the dispute to move forward to trial.

As of Friday, a trial date had yet to be scheduled, according to online court records.

Reached by phone Friday afternoon, Thomas P. Bernier, the Baltimore attorney representing Valor Security and Mydatt Services, declined to comment citing the ongoing litigation.

A spokesperson for Mydatt Services, of which Valor Security is a subsidiary, did not immediately return a call for comment.

On July 7, 2014, Talley was at the Zumiez store, which sells skate and snowboarding equipment, when a manager at the store suspected the 26-year-old of shoplifting, according to the complaint.

Brafa's attorney, Sarah N. Koop, also declined to comment on the ongoing case when reached by phone Friday afternoon.

Instead of alerting police, Brafa and four security guards chased Talley outside through the mall's parking lot and into a nearby wooded area. Brafa and the security guards followed Talley to a water collection pond while yelling and threatening him, the complaint alleges.

The wooded area where Talley was chased drops off steeply to the water, Richard Winelander, the attorney representing Tally's family, said Friday when reached by phone.

At least one security guard chased Talley into the pond. The others surrounded the pond to prevent his escape, the complaint alleges.

Legal Action

July 2014 Autopsy Report - accidental (sic) drowning

June 2016 Lawsuit lodged

Community and Family Efforts

Obituary