Two Georgia police offers involved in an offensive incident caught on video earlier in this month are being criminally charged. The Gwinnett County Police Department said in a news release on Wednesday that Michael Bongiovanni, aged 42, and Robert McDonald, aged 25, have been charged with violating the oath of their office, a felony and also with misdemeanor battery.
Under the Georgia law a felony charge carries a sentence of no less than one year in prison if convicted, reported The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Both the officers were also fired after the 12th April incident.
Footage shared on the Facebook by Black Lives Matter of the Greater Atlanta shows that 21-year-old Demetrius Hollins, who has been handcuffed and on the ground and was being pushed into the street by Bongiovanni.
Hollins was on his stomach and showing no signs of resisting when a second officer, who was identified as McDonald, runs to the scene and appears to stomp on the Hollins’ head.
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A second video appears to show that Bongiovanni punch Hollins in the head as he steps out of his car with his hands up.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a situation where both officers appeared to act without justification,” thw District Attorney Danny Porter told to the Atlanta ABC station WSB-TV. Porter told to the station more charges could follow.
Attorney Mike Puglise, who is representing Bongiovanni, told to Atlanta NPR station WABE that his client maintains his innocence and also plans to vigorously defend himself.
Police said Hollins had been stopped for turning without signaling and also driving without a license plate, though Hollins said that the license was in the rear window. He was charged with obstruction and also possession of less than 1 ounce of marijuana, both misdemeanors, and also four traffic violations, including the driving with a suspended license, as per the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office.
Jail records show that neither officer had turned himself in as of late Wednesday, but the officers had been given until the end of Thursday to do so.
Mrudula Duddempudi.
