A sheriff's deputy in Georgia was fired after repeatedly striking a Black man who was pinned to the ground.
The deputy, was fired for excessive use of force in the encounter with Roderick Walker. A criminal investigation was being turned over to the Clayton County district attorney's office.
Walker was a passenger in a car that was pulled over for having a broken taillight. When the deputy asked for his identification, he refused.
"like every American citizen has the right to do," Williams said.
After authorities told Walker to get out of the car, the deputies "attacked" him.
There does not appear to be any video indicating what led up to the incident, and it was unclear how the interaction became violent. Authorities have not said why the car was pulled over.
Walker received medical treatment, including X-rays, and that no fractures were found, but a photo released by his attorneys showed him with a swollen eye.
Jail records show that Walker was arrested on suspicion of obstructing or hindering an officer and battery, which Williams said should be dropped. Walker was being held on an outstanding felony probation warrant for cruelty to children and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, as well as another warrant for failure to appear.
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