89 cases involving Georgia cops fired for punching, stomping black driver are dropped
Georgia cops fired after assault video surfaces
Two police officers have been fired after video surfaced showing them punching and stomping a man during an arrest in Georgia in the United States on April 12.
White Georgia cop is fired after he's caught on camera STOMPING on the face of a black man as he lay on the ground in handcuffs
- A white police officer in Georgia was was caught on camera stomping on the face of a subdued black man
- Robert McDonald, a three-year veteran of the Gwinnett County Police Department, was fired from his job on Thursday
- McDonald was filmed stomping on the face of Demetrius Bryan Hollins, 21
- A motorist filmed the incident on Sugarloaf Parkway outside Lawrenceville
- The President of Black Lives Matter Greater Atlanta said: 'They would have covered this up if it were not for the video'
- The now ex-officer worked for Gwinnett County Police Department, just east of Atlanta
The video, taken by a motorist on his cellphone on Wednesday, shows the man being pulled out of a car by an officer, Sgt. M.F. Bongiovanni, who handcuffs him as he lies on his stomach on the road.
The arrested man has been identified as 21-year-old Lawrenceville resident Demetrius Bryan Hollins, according to Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
In the video, Hollins is prone and clearly posing no danger when the second officer, three-year veteran Robert McDonald, runs up and aims a brutal kick at the man's face.
McDonald, who was initially suspended pending an investigation, has now been dismissed.
Both officers were from Gwinnett County Police Department, just east of Atlanta.
Police officer Robert McDonald (left) was fired after video emerged showing him stomping on the face of 21-year-old Lawrenceville, Georgia, resident Demetrius Bryan Hollins (right)
The video, taken by a motorist on his cellphone on Wednesday, shows Hollins being pulled out of a car by an officer, Sgt. M.F. Bongiovanni (left), who handcuffs him as he lies on his stomach on the road. McDonald (right) is seen running up to him and kicking him in the face
Hollins is lying on the ground, handcuffed, and is presenting no danger when the officer kicks him in the face (pictured, left). Sir Maejor Page, from Black Lives Matter Greater Atlanta (right) said the officer should be fired
According to the Journal-Constitution, Hollins was arrested on charges of marijuana possession, obstruction of a police officer, and numerous traffic violations.
He is being held in jail in lieu of $7,502 bond.
Hollins is alleged to have 'ignored verbal commands to exit [the] vehicle and then refused to place [his] hands behind [his] back after he was told he was under arrest,' according to the police report.
Bongiovanni's incident report claimed that Hollins’ car, a red Acura Integra, did not have a license plate.
When Hollins refused to exit the car, police officers used a Taser, according to the arrest warrant.
Neither officer involved in the incident was wearing a body cam, according to police.
Sir Maejor Page, from Black Lives Matter of Greater Atlanta, said Hollins had also been Tased and was immobile when McDonald 'ran like a bat out of Hell and stomps on his face'.
He told Mail Online: 'We are seeking the immediate termination of that officer and also for criminal charges to be brought.'
Page said the video clip had been offered to his organization shortly after the incident.
He said the person who shot the video told him there 'blood splattered everywhere' after Hollins was kicked in the face.
Gwinnett County police released a statement on Thursday morning announcing that the officer filmed had been suspended.
'The officer was responding as a backup officer to assist a supervisor with a traffic stop at the intersection of Sugarloaf Parkway at Lawrenceville Suwanee Road,' the department said in a statement.
'After the arrest, the shift commander initiated an immediate investigation into the incident.'
'The officer was placed on administrative leave, his department issued firearm was taken, and he was sent home.
'He will not be operating in a law enforcement capacity while this case is being investigated. The cell phone video is very disturbing and it speaks for itself.'
'We will conduct a thorough investigation.'
Hours after releasing the statement, the police department announced that McDonald was dismissed.
Page, a model and actor who appeared in TV show American Horror Story, said: 'They'd have covered this up if it was not for this video.'
He said he was not sure why Hollins had been pulled over by police but he added: 'I can only assume it was because he was black.'
Page said: 'Gwinnett County police have a reputation for being aggressive with black males and with racially profiling people.'
Hollins had been handcuffed and was lying on the floor, posing a danger to no-one (left) when he was kicked. He was dragged away afterwards (right). The motorist who filmed the incident said there was 'blood spattered everywhere'
He said: 'This is nothing new but it just happens to have got caught on tape.'
Page said Gwinnett County Police Department had now been notified of the video and were involved in 'damage control'.
On their Facebook page, Black Lives Matter Greater Atlanta wrote: 'This is why we take to the streets and scream #BlackLivesMatter, it's because American police officers have ZERO regards for black lives, they beat us, shoot and kill us without a blink of an eye and the biggest problem is, it all goes UNCHALLENGED.'
Hollins was stopped by police due to 'numerous traffic violations.' The police report says that he was Tased and handcuffed because he refused officers' instructions to exit the vehicle
Black Lives Matter has been involved in a number of incidents in Georgia where police officers have been accused of brutalizing African American citizens.
In February an undercover Atlanta police officer was accused of badly beating Anthony Walters, 25, in October last year.
In November last year Andrew Depeiza was shot dead by a police officer in East Point.
In the same month Shanita Maeberry suffered a broken jaw during an altercation with police officers who arrested her for having marijuana in her purse.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4408018/Georgia-cop-caught-video-stamping-man-s-face.html#ixzz4eJ8Qq99A
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