Athens-Clarke County Police have released police body cam video of an arrest in downtown Athens: a 20 year-old man from Roswell was hit with a taser during a struggle with police. Some, including Athens-Clarke County Commissioner Mariah Parker, have complained about excessive use of force by police.
From the ACCPD…
Officers responded to a complaint of a disorderly person refusing to leave a downtown bar at 400 East Clayton Street. Officers contacted London Best and he was identified as the suspect. Parties were separated and Mr. Best agreed to leave. Later that evening, Mr. Best returned and the situation escalated. The accompanying video documents the timeline of events.
Of note, you will see that the individual who was arrested, Mr. Best, was not simply waiting for a Uber ride as he claims. Witness and video evidence clearly show that Mr. Best and several accomplices returned to the business, sought to intimidate through their presence there, by yelling into the business at employees and by actually entering the business. According to witnesses, Mr. Best threatened that he had a gun and employees fled to the basement out of fear for their safety. Additional video evidence shows that Mr. Best, was given a written baring notice and repeatedly asked to leave the property/area. After Mr. Best refused to leave and continued to instigate and antagonize the situation officers attempted to arrest him.
The video evidence shows that Mr. Best resisted arrest by pulling his arm away and refusing to allow officer to bring the arm behind his back to be handcuffed. During a struggle that ensued, Mr. Best is seen striking an officer in the head with his elbow and wrestling with the officers to resist arrest. During the struggle one of the officers struck his head on a parking meter pole, was disoriented and injured (later treated at hospital and released).
The video also clearly shows that, even when on the ground, Mr. Best continued to resist, pulling his arm away from officers and not allowing officers to handcuff him. Finally, an officer clearly announces to Mr. Best that if he does not stop resisting, he will be tased. When Mr. Best continues to resist and not allow his arm to be brought behind his back, an officer uses the taser on him. This case remains under investigation. However, a preliminary review of the facts suggests that the officers' actions were lawfully appropriate and within policy.