A prosecutor dropped charges on Monday against six Atlanta police officers who used force while pulling two Black students from their car while stuck in traffic during a protest over the death of George Floyd.
The confrontation happened in downtown Atlanta in May 2020 while the two students, who attended a local HBCU, were sitting in their vehicle. The officers used Tasers and stunned the pair when they pulled them out of the vehicle. One of the students reportedly suffered a broken arm and also required stitches.
Days after the confrontation, the Fulton County district attorney at the time announced arrest warrants were obtained for the six officers involved. Two of the officers were later fired and three were placed on desk duty. But the two officers fired returned to duty in February of last year after the Atlanta Civil Service Board said the city did not follow its own personnel procedures.
The state attorney appointed a new prosecutor to take over the case after the D.A. who called for the officers’ arrests lost his re-election bid in November 2020. The new prosecutor dismissed charges on Monday against all six officers involved, claiming he was unable to find probable cause to prosecute the officers under Georgia law.
You can find more information about the case here, along with the names of the officers and prosecutors involved.
Opinion: Another injustice. This decision was absolutely outrageous and political. I hope a civil and federal lawsuit are in the pipeline, and Atlanta voters elect officials who can help rebuild trust between the community and police by holding bad officers accountable for their egregious actions.
