Georgia trooper stomps on armed suspect after foot chase in viral video, sparks outrage

A video has gone viral on the internet showing a Georgia trooper repeatedly giving the foot strike to a suspect. Reports said that the suspect, Jamarco Kintavious Lucas, was armed and was escaping cops on October 3 when the altercation happened. According to reports, Lucas was seen driving a 2019 Dodge Challenger without a seatbelt on Atlanta’s Downtown Connector.

However, when the Decatur native, wanted in nearby Rockdale County on a battery charge, was asked to stop, he fled, Lt Mark Riley, spokesman for Georgia State Patrol, said in a news release. Riley also added that later Lucas left his car and began running, which led to the foot chase by the trooper.

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A second video of the same incident showed the unnamed trooper running behind the suspect before using his stun gun and causing him to fall to the ground. Riley said that at that point the trooper claimed to see a handgun fall from Lucas’ waistband. It has been said that the 27-year-old accused then tried to get up but the trooper stomped him and while handcuffing him, he “observed a handgun laying on the sidewalk between his location and a bystander.” After recovering the firearm, the trooper took Lucas to his patrol vehicle.

The trooper is now under investigation for his action while the suspect has been charged with multiple counts including fleeing or attempting to elude; obstruction of a law enforcement officer; possession of a firearm with an altered serial number; reckless driving; speeding; improper lane change; failure to obey a traffic control device; driving while unlicensed; no seatbelt.

Though the trooper’s action is still under review, Georgia's Department of Public Safety's policy manual states that cops are authorized to use physical strength to catch a suspect. But, activist Scotty Smart told local ABC station, “I think that's a clear case of excessive force. We have someone on the ground already. There's no need to stomp on him. Stomping on him two or three times looks like an emotional reaction.”

People on Twitter also have expressed their views. A user tweeted, “This is completely unacceptable. That officer must be held accountable, this man is unarmed and as a police officer you should be trained to deescalate without the use of excessive force. We are talking about putting more officers on the streets of Atlanta when this is happening.” The second one wrote, “Answer for this, @ga_dps . Your man kicked, stomped, and jumped on a civilian who was already on the ground. This is not a bad day or bad apple, this is ABUSE AND BRUTALITY. @ACLUofGA @KeishaBottoms @BrianKempGA.” “Funny how all yall want ol boy to follow commands stop running when whole time by stomping on that criminal that trooper himself has become a criminal by violating the very oath he sworn to uphold,” the third user added.

A person noted, “Georgia State Patrol needs to be banned in the City of Atlanta! #FullStop They have not only killed dozens of innocent people doing car chases for b.s. speeding tickets, but also most of them are members of white supremacist groups!”