The mayor of Davenport is facing accusations from Polk County deputies that she illegallly used a deceased person's disabled parking permit to park in a reserved spot at City Hall.

  • Davenport mayor charged with criminal use of deceased person's ID
  • Teresa Bradley illegally used disabled person's permit, deputies say
  • Deputies said they saw Bradley using reserved spots at City Hall

Mayor Teresa Bradley was arrested Tuesday and faces several charges, including criminal use of deceased person's ID, possession of altered/counterfeit decal, and unlawful use of disabled person's parking permit, according to an arrest report. 

Davenport resident Albert Deaton was shocked. He says he has difficulty walking and has a disabled placard himself.

"I think it's unbelievable. That should never happen," Deaton said.

In November, the Sheriff's Office said it received information that Bradley, 60, was parking in reserved spots in Davenport City Hall but was not known to be a disability or have a permit issued to her. 

During the investigation, deputies said they saw Bradley parking in one of the designated reserved spots, placing the placard on a car mirror before leaving the vehicle, and then removing the placard after she returned to the car. 


Polk County deputies said this photo depicts Teresa Bradley's car parked in the reserved spot at Davenport City Hall, with a disabled person's parking placard. (Polk County Sheriff's Office)

Sheriff Grady Judd said she also altered the placard to give it an October 2018 expiration date. He called Bradley's alleged actions arrogance and said Bradley must have thought she was above the law.

"The irony is as mayor, she could have gone before the commisison or may have had the independent authority to designate her own parking spot," Judd said. 

Judd said she offered an explanation upon being arrested.

“She said apparently some time in the past, years ago, she was kidnapped. Now, she is afraid to park in the parking lot at night, and she wanted to be as close to the building as possible," Judd said.

During a search warrant of her home, deputies found two disabled person's parking permits issued to two different people, one of whom died in 2012 and the other in 2015. 

"We expect our elected officials to set the proper example. She not only violated the law, she embarrassed the citizens of Davenport with her illegal conduct," Judd said. 

Bradley was booked into the Polk County jail and was released after posting the $2,250 bond. Bradley had a gate and no-trespassing sign at her home and was unavailable for comment.

Davenport commissioners and the city attorney are meeting at 3 p.m. Thursday to discuss the mayor's future. ​