“Stop beating yourself!”: New videos from the fatal arrest in Atlanta

ATLANTA – For a moment, Rayshard Brooks cooperatively chats with the Atlanta police, claiming he had a few drinks to celebrate his daughter’s birthday while agreeing to take a blood alcohol test.

The next moment, he struggles on the ground and struggles to appropriate the electric pulse weapon of a police officer. Then Rayshard Brooks takes the gun and tries to escape.

A few seconds later, three shots rang out and Rayshard Brooks fell, fatally injured.

Atlanta Police video was released on Sunday showing a seemingly routine sobriety check outside a Wendy’s restaurant that quickly spiraled out of control, ending in gunfire.

The murder of the 27-year-old black man during a meeting with two white officers on Friday night reignited protests in Atlanta and prompted the resignation of the chief of police.

Police said on Sunday the department fired Officer Garrett Rolfe, who fired the fatal shots, and Officer Devin Brosnan had been transferred to administrative duties. Garett Rolfe had worked for the department since October 2013 and Brosnan, since September 2018.

Meanwhile, authorities announced a $ 10,000 reward for information that would identify those responsible for the fire at Wendy’s restaurant, the spot where Rayshard Brooks died in a parking lot. Flames destroyed the restaurant late Saturday after the protests escalated. The protests resulted in 36 arrests.

Images from the body cameras of the two policemen and the dashboards of their patrol car show that the interrogation of Rayshard Brooks lasted more than 40 minutes. Discussions were peaceful, but the physical altercation erupted when police attempted to handcuff Rayshard Brooks.

Andy Harvey, Ennis, Texas police chief, author of books and developer of community policing training, said moments like this can turn into a split second.

“The moment you get a hold of a person is a time when that person can decide to comply or to resist,” said Andy Harvey. “That’s what happened in Atlanta.”

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation will present the results of its investigation to prosecutors. Fulton District Attorney Paul Howard said in a statement on Sunday that he hoped to reach a mid-week ruling on whether to lay charges against the police.

On Friday night, the police were called after a complaint about a sleeping driver, whose vehicle was blocking the drive-thru for take-out orders.

Devin Brosnan was the first to arrive at the scene and found Rayshard Brooks alone in the car, apparently asleep. Rayshard Brooks agreed to move his car, showed his license, and Garrett Rolfe arrived a few minutes later to take a blood alcohol test.

“I know you’re just doing your job,” Rayshard Brooks can be heard in one of the videos after consenting to a blood alcohol test. He mentions his daughter’s birthday and says, “I just had a few drinks, that’s all.”

Garett Rolfe does not tell Rayshard Brooks about the test result, although his body camera registers a result of 0.108 – above the blood alcohol content of 0.08 grams, which is the limit in Georgia.

“Alright, I think you drank too much to drive,” Garett Rolfe tells Rayshard Brooks. “Put your hands behind your back.”

Video then shows each officer grabbing one of Rayshard Brooks’ wrists as Garett Rolfe tries to handcuff him. Rayshard Brooks then tries to escape and the police take him to the ground.

“Stop fighting!” shouts an officer.

One of the dashboard cameras recorded the fight. As Rayshard Brooks struggles to stand, Devin Brosnan presses the CEW to his leg and threatens to use it. Rayshard Brooks grabs the policeman’s gun. He stands up, the electric shock pistol in his hand, and begins to run.

Garett Rolfe fires his Electric Pulse Pistol and a scream can be heard above the electric crackle of the weapon. Devin Rolfe runs after Rayshard Brooks, and seconds later three shots ring out.

The body cameras of the two officers fell to the ground during the altercation, and none of the four police cameras captured the shots. Footage from a security camera at Wendy’s restaurant shows Garett Brooks turning and pointing an object in his hand at one of the officers walking behind him. The officer takes out his gun and fires.

“As I was chasing him he turned around and started shooting me,” Garett Rolfe told a supervisor in a conversation recorded by a camera. “He certainly shot me at least once.”

Georgia Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Nelly Miles said Sunday that she could not confirm whether Rayshard Brooks fired the electric shock pistol.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said “she did not believe the use of lethal force was necessary” during the operation.

Police chief Erika Shields, who joined the department as a police officer in 1995, has resigned.

–