What started out as a simple night on the town for 4 young Atlanta woman, turned into a gruesome case of police brutality after one of the four ladies was brutally punched in the face by an Atlanta police officer.
What started the melee is unclear, but one of the women, Cynthia Freeman, says she and her friends were seated at the first table near the front door of the IHOP when all hell broke loose.
Freeman was among four arrested in the 4 a.m. Saturday incident, according to her attorney Bobby Aniekwu, he is representing three of the women in what he considers a case of “excessive force.”
?He just attacked me,? Freeman said, ?And I said, ?What did I do? What did I do? I didn?t do anything.?
?I?m sitting with my friends, and I?m talking to the Darth Vadar guys, just on a casual conversation … and then he just out of nowhere came to me, out of all of the people, came to me,? she said later.
?I didn?t touch this man, never, not once,? she said. ?I didn?t pay him any attention what he had on. I was just looking at his face because he was yelling.?
Additional details PLUS the disturbing video below:
VIDEO: Atlanta Police Brutality at IHop
The officer, who has yet to be identified was caught on tape as he shouted at a woman sitting in the corner of a booth near the door and then lunged at her. Another woman (in the a black dress) appears to be trying to separate the officer and her friend when the officer hauls off and slaps her.
The woman in the black dress hits him back, and that’s when the officer punches her in the face!
A second officer assists just after the it became physical between the first cop and the woman in the black dress, apparently trying to separate them.
The first officer pulls the woman away from the table as startled bystanders watch and throws her onto the floor. He sits on top of her while trying to get handcuffs on one wrist.
Within moments, a female officer appeared to hold back the crowd while the woman in the black dress, shoeless, was led out of the restaurant.
The officer involved in the incident has been placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of an investigation, an Atlanta police spokesman said.
Atlanta police released the following statement regarding the explosive video:
The officer involved in the arrest and confrontation with a patron at the IHOP in Buckhead has been placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of an investigation by the department?s Office of Professional Standards.
Use of force by police officers is a matter the department takes seriously, and the OPS investigation will determine if the officer acted within established guidelines.
Chief Turner has pledged to have the OPS investigation concluded in 10 business days.
Cynthia Freeman who, appeared with her attorney in front of the media, was arrested that night and charged with obstruction of justice, criminal trespass and simple battery.
Leavell was charged with obstruction, public drunkenness and simple battery.
(source)