Policeman faces dismissal over airport brutality claim

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.accessnorthga.com/news/ap_newfullstory.asp?ID=59798

An Atlanta police officer faces dismissal after an investigation found he violated department policy in an altercation at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport with a woman who was dropping off her mother. snip

Alexander threw Dietrich-Barnes to the pavement in an effort to arrest her for a traffic violation. But after reviewing an airport security videotape, his supervisors dropped charges of illegal parking, battery and obstruction that he had filed against her. snip

Alexander said he did nothing wrong and will appeal to the chief to let him keep his job.

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[CBGLuthier]

1. tiny bit more info and pictures of the two

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/4403900/detail.html



I really would like to see some of that video to see what was what.

[wakeme2008]

2. OTOH, a video tape released by the attorney of a 5 yo handcuffed by the

Police removes any questions about the question of was this child out of control. http://www.sptimes.com/2005/04/22/Southpinellas/Video_shows_police_ha.shtml

LOL after watching the first video I was thinking of applying hand to butt would be a good thing. :)

[napi21]

3. Well, I live a little north of Atl, and this cop sure seemed out of line.

I saw video replayed and replayed on this incident. Seems to me, this lady had dropped her mom off at the AP door and was pulling out of the parking spot when this cop walked by ahd his arm or hand was brushed by her mirror. He NEVER gave it a thought that he might have been where he shouldn't have been, and yelled that she stop, get out of the car and hit the ground!

They are doing construction in this area, and there's been a lot of chaos, but I really think this cop was haveing a bad day, and just flipped out!

[toopers]

4. A little more info . . .

apparently, this cop has been having a bad career. He has been reprimanded several times for being overly aggressive and abusive. Typically, Hartsfield Airport is manned by cops that have been pulled from regular duty because of disciplinary problems. I will try and find a link. Most of this info is from what I have heard about the case from the time it first happened about 6 mos ago.

Also, I think the women who was body slammed was waiting to pickup her mother, not dropping her off.

[napi21]

6. Where did you hear the AP is a "rehab zone"?

Yea, I know, "rehab Zone" is my phrase, but putting cops with agression problems in one place sounds like that to me! I thought they put dicipline problems behind a desk? Or is that just something I learned from movies???

Anyway, I think that's a bad move, to expose many people, most of whom are visiting Atlanta, to potential police misbehavior.

I've never had a problem with cops, partly because I really am a woosy girl, who always tries to do the right thing, and if a cop said "get that left foot back on the walk...I'd probably trip over myself trying to do it, but I do care about what people think about the City I live in, and I don't thins is a good way to do that!

[toopers]

7. I live in the metro area too.

ITP, to be more exact. I heard about the "rehab" (to use your terminology) from several radio and newspaper sources. I care about what the people think about this city also, but I think this incident plus the recent courthouse fiasco paint a fairly clear, though ugly, picture of some of the bureaucracies down here.

[lordwhorfin]

5. Not uncommon

I was a witness in a traffic court hearing recently, and in a case called prior to ours, a young woman was disputing a rolling stop that a cop accused her making. From the testimony, it became pretty clear that the cop, a bicycle cop, came up too quickly in the woman's blind spot and nearly got hit when she made a legal turn. He was pissed, so he wrote her up for a roll stop that she hadn't made. The judge threw that ticket out so fast . . . it was nice to see some justice done.

[sendero]

8. Once again....

.... if not for the videotape, there would be another gross miscarriage of justice.

Without the tape, everyone would have automatically believed the cop, the woman would have gotten stiff fines and maybe even worse, and the cop would go off scot free.

How many times do similar things happen where there isn't any video to show the truth? We can only guess.

[NNN0LHI]

11. To be honest it happens more often than you want to know about

Just keep saying "police never lie" and everything will be just fine. Trust me.

Don

[ReadTomPaine]

9. No cop should be able to wear a badge w/o a Masters or PhD...

In LE that includes appropriate training, constitutional law certification & psych screening and counseling that weeds out the 'roid raged rejects. It should take a good, long time to complete as well, like a law degree. Current officers would be welcome to reapply for their positions if they pass such training and screening. Military enlistment always exists as an option for those unable or unwilling to meet the higher standard. Given the power they wield, the police should be as well or better trained and educated than lawyers or judges.

[Lerkfish]

10. typical that he was trying to sue HER.

jerk. Not only does she have to endure the incident itself, but she has to hire lawyers to defend herself from false charges.

[Daphne08]

12. I hope she sues the department!

They should not be placing 'officers with agression problems' at the airport.

They should have fired this man long ago.