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During an Atlanta protest over the weekend, a video went viral of officers using excessive force when trying to arrest a black man and black woman who were in a car. The two were not fighting back, nor were they causing an issue. Cops can be seen pulling open the car doors, busting out the windows, flattening the tires, tasing them, and snatching them out of the car.
O Monday, two investigators, identified as Mark Gardner and Ivory Streeter, of the Atlanta Police Department’s (APD) Fugitive Unit were both fired as a result. Both investigators were men of color.
On Tuesday, all 6 officers involved have been charges with using excessive force during the arrest of the two college students. Arrest warrants have been issued for Lonnie Hood, Willie Sauls, Ivory Streeter, Mark Gardner, Armond Jones and Roland Claud. Some of the charges against the officers include aggravated assault of Messiah Young, aggravated assault of Taniyah Pilgrim, simple battery and criminal damage to property.
The officers have until the end of the day on June 5 to surrender, Howard said. A $10,000 signature bond has been set for all six officers.
Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said that Pilgrim was released without charges and that she was ordering the charges against Young to be dropped, students at Morehouse College and Spelman College respectively.
“Use of excessive force is never acceptable,” Bottoms told reporters Sunday. Shields called the footage “really shocking to watch” and apologized to the students.
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Written by Clarke Jones
Source: CNN