Georgia police officer fired after video shows him running down a suspect with his car
A police officer from Georgia was fired after a dashcam video from his patrol car captured him running down a suspect with his vehicle, according to reports.
Athens-Clarke County police department's Taylor Saulters was initially suspended after the chase, which occurred on June 1; the officer was then subsequently fired on Saturday.
The police department reportedly reviewed the video which showed Saulters driving after the suspect, 23-year-old Timmy Patmon who was on foot, in a chase. Reports state that Patmon had a felony probation warrant against him.
The clip shows Saulters driving over a curb which blew out one of his vehicle's tires, he then tried to pull in front of Patmon as a roadblock but he was not successful. It was then when he charged after Patmon with his vehicle, knocking him to the ground.
The police department said that the suspect, after his arrest, was taken to a nearby hospital where he was treated for cuts and bruises. After the treatment he was taken to the Clarke County Jail for the probation violation and a charge of obstruction of a law enforcement officer, according to reports.
While talking to WSBTV a police department spokesperson said that the officials do not believe Saulters intentionally hit the suspect with his vehicle, however, the officials admit that the police officer was negligent in the incident.
Patmon's mother, Tammy LaShay Brown Patmon, told the Atlanta-based station: "It’s police brutality, it sure is. It’s wrong."
Witnesses in the video can be heard questioning Saulters over his actions and asking him why did he hit the suspect with his vehicle.
One of the women in the video approaches the officer and shouts: "Why’d you hit that man with your car like that?"
Saulters, in the video, can also be seen threatening to use a stun gun on the suspect while handcuffing him on the ground.
The officer then instructs Patmon to stand up but it takes him some time and he tells the cop that he is hurt from getting struck with the patrol car.
Saulters then tells him: "Oh, I know, I know what I did. Why’d you run?”
Reports state that Saulters, in a recorded conversation, tells other officers that he did not hit Patmon intentionally.
"I didn’t hit him with the car, I blocked him with the car,” he said. “He ran into the hood of my car and bounced off.”
The police department said that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation will conduct an investigation to determine whether Saulters will be criminally charged.