Activists are calling for DeKalb County's leaders to speak out against police use of force and fire an officer after a video showed a white officer beating a black woman with a baton.
They confronted DeKalb CEO Mike Thurmond on Tuesday and asked him to ensure justice is served.
“You see what’s going on across the country, right?” said Gerald Rose, founder of New Order National Human Rights Organization. “Why haven’t you said anything? You said that justice will be served.”
Thurmond responded that he will be fair and objective before taking action.
“If I make a decision now, then why should we have an investigation?” Thurmond asked. “You want fairness, right? You want justice. ... It still should be fair.”
The GBI is investigating the case after a video of Katie McCrary's arrest created outrage among the community.
The video showed DeKalb Officer P.J. Larscheid repeatedly striking McCrary with a baton on June 4 at a gas station on Glenwood Road. The officer said he had heard complaints that McCrary was asking people for money, and she had tried to grab his badge.
Rose and five others held a press conference at the DeKalb government building before confronting Thurmond.
“We've got to stand up,” said Josie Dean, holding a sign for her group, Black Man Never Forget. “Is there a reason to beat her like that?”
Attorneys for McCrary said in a statement Tuesday that she’s undergoing treatment for her physical and emotional injuries.
“Ms. McCrary was unarmed and displayed no violent behavior or threat towards Officer Larscheid or other patrons,” according to the statement from attorneys Jonathan Broderick and Amber Reed. “The officers’ aggression and threats of deadly force towards Ms. McCrary only served to escalate a situation that should have been handled without violence or physical harm.”
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