Video: Officers Accused of Excessive Force in Melee At Atlanta IHOP

Atlanta Police are investigating an incident captured in the video below where an officer is shown first slapping and then punching a woman in an altercation. The woman and her friends insist that they were arrested without cause. The ACLU is calling the case a matter of excessive force.

Cynthia Freeman said that she did not even know the man who first confronted her was a police officer. He came by to tell them to be quiet and then, according to the women, almost immediately escalated the matter. Notably, the woman (Ashley Leavell) who was struck by the officer did not know Freeman but was trying to get the officer to back off. Leavell was sitting at another table.

The police insist that Leavell was drunk and threatening the arresting officer. She is now charged with obstruction of justice, criminal trespass and simple battery. The last charge appears based on her grabbling or pushing the officer in this video. We have seen other cases where police charge any contact as battery.

Source: AJC