Video of Genele Laird’s arrest has gone viral. As of now, she has not been charged.
Dane County officials said she was released at 7:45 p.m. from the county jail. There is no information about future court dates or charges being filed.
Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne, reached by News 3 Thursday night, had no comment other than to say he would have more information to release Friday.
Community and family members expected Laird to make her initial appearance Thursday, but it never happened.
“It’s really hard and I don’t like thinking about it because I was so excited and I really needed this to happen,” Laird’s sister, Deirdre Adele Thompson, said.
Supporters of Laird sat in anticipation Thursday hoping to see her for the first time in almost 48 hours. Even though Laird didn’t appear in court Thursday, supporters said their presence was important.
“She has to sit in there in jail and have the bruises and think about the situation, and she can’t talk to people who love her and understand and tell her that she’s not a bad person and that what she went through doesn’t mean she deserved it,” Thompson said prior to Laird’s release.
Laird was arrested Tuesday at East Towne Mall. Police said she resisted arrest after displaying a weapon and making threats inside the mall. Police Chief Mike Koval said her behavior made the use of force seen in the video necessary.
“We just want her out and hold our family member again. We want to know that she really is OK and not just have people tell us she is OK. We want to see her. We want to see the bruises. We want to see her face and hold her,” she said.
Laird is facing potential charges of disorderly conduct while armed with a knife, resisting police causing injury, battery to a police officer and discharge of bodily fluid.
Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne ordered the release of a Madison teen Thursday night who’s arrest outside a Madison mall Tuesday night went viral.
