Powder Springs police investigating claims officer groped man during traffic stop

By Angel K. Brooks

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Powder Springs police are investigating a man's claims that an officer grabbed his genitals and shocked him with a stun gun during a traffic stop, Channel 2 Action News reported Friday.

"It was very frightening," 23-year-old Brice Wilson told Channel 2.

Wilson said the officer pulled him over at the intersection of Old Austell Road and Atlanta Street because his license plate light was out. The officer then asked Wilson to step out of his vehicle because he smelled marijuana. Wilson denied having any marijuana and none was ever found, the report said.

After the officer called for backup, the dashcam video of the incident appears to show the officer grabbing Wilson's genitals while searching him. Wilson grabbed the officer's hand before being put into a chokehold and subdued by both officers. The officers said they used a stun gun because Wilson wouldn't be still. Wilson still faces a resisting arrest charge, the report said.

"Once we became aware of the incident we immediately launched an internal affairs investigation," Maj. Matt Boyd told Channel 2.