Georgia Police Caught on Video Beating Suspect

By
ABC News
January 7, 2006, 9:37 AM ET
2 min read

L A W R E N C E, G A. — -- The Lawrenceville police officers whowere videotaped punching and kicking a drunken-driving suspect willremain on duty while the tapes are reviewed, Police Chief RandyJohnson said Thursday.

Johnson said the officers told him that Marshall Dwight Studdardresisted arrest and lay on his arm so he couldn’t be handcuffedafter leading police on a chase through three counties in rush-hourtraffic Wednesday.

Officers are allowed to use force if it is needed, he said.

“I’m not jumping on either side,” Johnson said. “Did they usetoo much force? I don’t know.”

Atlanta television stations filmed the arrest from helicopters.The tapes showed officers with guns drawn pulling Studdard, 34,from his truck. Two officers were filmed kicking and punchingStuddard repeatedly as he lay on the ground.

“We’re getting a lot of phone calls about that,” saidLawrenceville police Lt. Jeff Smith. He said the department wouldreview the tapes “to make sure that the force that was used wasnecessary and within policy.”

Johnson said cameras don’t always show every angle, and he saidforce sometimes “does look worse than it is.”

Studdard is obscured on the tapes by an officer standing overhim, making it difficult to see whether the suspect did anything toprovoke the officers’ blows.

Johnson said Studdard was not injured and did not requiremedical attention.

Smith said police were called to Studdard’s home three timesTuesday and Wednesday to investigate complaints that he wasfighting with his fiancee and neighbors. Studdard was gone eachtime officers arrived.

Officers finally spotted Studdard Wednesday afternoon and chasedhim when he fled. The 20-minute chase down Georgia 316 andInterstate 85 took police through Gwinnett, DeKalb and Fultoncounties. Police said Studdard was drinking a beer as he drove.

The chase ended when Studdard’s truck hit another car,overheated and stalled, Smith said.

Studdard was charged with driving under the influence,attempting to flee and elude police, reckless driving and having anopen container of alcohol. He was being held at the Gwinnett CountyJail.