Three state alcohol control officers returned to active duty Monday for the first time since participating in an arrest in March that left a black University of Virginia student bloody and fed a national debate over police relations with minorities.
Advertisement
The arrest of Martese Johnson caused a furor after photos and video of the bloodied 20-year-old were circulated widely on social media. Johnson, who’s black, could possibly be heard on the recordings calling the officers racist.
Virginia State Police, an agency independent from the ABC, carried out the investigation into Johnson’s arrest. ABC’s news release reported that the training had been completed in June and July, ahead of schedule.
At Governor Terry McAuliffe’s request, Virginia State Police conducted both an administrative and criminal investigation but no one was charged.
On March 19, 2015, certain special agents of the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) were removed from active duty pending an administrative review of an incident in Charlottesville. A prosecutor said in June he would not pursue charges against him or the agents.
According to Chapman, the pub owner told investigators that he turned away Johnson after he failed to correctly recite the ZIP code on his ID.
ABC says the agents didn’t violate company coverage.
Johnson admitted he was trying to enter the bar that night as a minor but said he didn’t do anything to provoke violence from an officer.
Two people said Johnson was “slammed to the ground”, Chapman said.
Johnson’s attorney Daniel Watkins told the Daily News he read the statement Monday morning and has no comment. Training included hands-on and classroom instruction in areas of use of force, cultural diversity, effective interaction with youth and community policing.
Advertisement
ABC says they’re moving forward the Governor’s executive order to improve law enforcement within the department. But instead of carrying a case of beer, as the agents suspected, the student had bottles of LaCroix sparkling water. The public backlash was fierce, and Daly ultimately settled a lawsuit for $212,500.
