Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Agency of it’s power.
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The Virginia ABC Enforcement Expert Review Panel, which was assembled by Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran following an executive order by Governor McAuliffe, convened following the controversial arrest of University of Virginia student Martese Johnson along the university corner in March.
Charges against Johnson were ultimately dropped, and the agents involved were cleared of any wrong doing. Johnson, who is black, could be heard on the video calling the officers racist.
The 37-page document produced by the internal affairs division of the Virginia State Police is a dense and detailed collection of more than 50 witness and participant accounts, as well as reviews of ABC enforcement protocol.
A separate report, also released on Tuesday, says that the ABC should retain its police powers but should make alcohol regulation a higher priority among its duties.
The panel included state and locally elected officials, representatives of local and campus law enforcement agencies and sheriff’s offices, Commonwealth’s Attorneys, Virginia ABC leadership, Department of Criminal Justice Services staff and additional individuals relevant to alcohol distribution and hospitality. It also recommended improvements in training, including eight hours of instruction annually in cultural diversity, effective interaction with youth and “response to active resistance”. Some of them claim Johnson has been drinking leading up to the incident.
McAuliffe also ordered a state police investigation of the incident.
While the arrest itself exposed the need for policy changes, the information presented in the report supports the ABC’s decision to reinstate the agents in question, according to a statement released by McAuliffe’s office.
The report does not assign blame for Mr. Johnson’s injury, saying only that it happened “when the agents and Johnson went to the ground”, according to the AP.
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McAuliffe praised the work of the task force and said he looked forward to reviewing its recommendations. Two years ago, several agents who mistook a carton of sparkling water for beer swarmed a vehicle driven by University of Virginia student Elizabeth Daly.
