The Clayton County Sherriff’s Office announced on Sunday that the deputy that was caught on camera repeatedly punching Roderick Walker following a traffic stop, has been fired.
According to ABC11, the Sherriff’s office said that the deputy was fired for using excessive force. They have not revealed the identity of the officer, but a criminal investigation is being conducted and has been turned over to the district attorney’s office.
WSBTV reports that Walker is in jail on two counts of battery and two counts of obstruction. His attorney, Shean Williams said that he was arrested and beaten by the deputy after he had just returned a rental car and had a friend take him and his family back home.
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An unmarked Clayton County patrol car pulled over the driver for an alleged broken tail light. Walker was in the car with his girlfriend and their children. The deputies asked for his identification, even though he was not the driver. The deputy reportedly got upset and demanded that he get out of the car after he asked why he should show his identification.
“They became upset when he asked, ‘Why are you asking for my ID? I’m not driving and I haven’t done anything wrong,'” said Williams.
Video of the violence Walker endured from the officer was captured on video and then shared on social media. Photos were released by Walker’s family, as they show the bruises he obtained due to the beating from the officer.
Breaking!
Per Clayton County Sheriff’s Office:
”The Deputy who repeatedly struck Roderick Walker is being terminated from the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office by order of Sheriff Victor Hill for excessive use of force.”@wsbtv pic.twitter.com/v9aDNfqCqg— Audrey Washington (@AudreyWSBTV) September 13, 2020
Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill reportedly ordered a bond for Walker but he said because he has a felony probation warrant out of Fulton County for cruelty to children, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and a failure to appear warrant out of Hapeville, the court denied the bond.
Walker’s attorney refuted those claims and released a statement on Sunday:
“Roderick Walker is in jail solely because he was illegally arrested after being assaulted by Clayton County Sheriff deputies, not because of anything he did during that incident or in the past. Mr. Walker would not be in jail if it were not for this unlawful arrest that violated his legal and constitutional rights.
Roderick Walker was not detained or arrested for being on probation or having an open case in another county. Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill’s statement is just a weak attempt to deflect from his lack of leadership and continuous encouragement that his deputies violate peoples’ civil rights.
We are demanding that the Clayton County District Attorney’s office immediately dismiss these frivolous charges against Roderick Walker in this incident. The only individuals who perpetrated criminal behavior were the deputies who unlawfully assaulted and arrested him. As such, we ask that the DA pursue criminal charges against these Clayton County Sheriff’s deputies.
We are also asking that the GBI investigate the assault of Mr. Walker and also investigate the other questionable conduct displayed by representatives with the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office.”
Walker has been receiving treatment and is being monitored by a doctor at the jail.
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TSR STAFF: Jade Ashley @Jade_Ashley94
