DeKalb police said two MARTA officers were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after they became belligerent when ordered to leave a bar at closing, according to a police report released Monday. One officer also was charged with public intoxication.
Malcolm Leon Nichols, 44, and Cedrone Durand Hodges, 38, were having drinks at Dudley’s Food and Spirits near Lithonia at 3 a.m. Friday when an off-duty DeKalb officer and a reserve officer, both working security, started directing patrons out the door at closing time.
Nichols, who was initially described as jovial, became verbally combative when told he and Hodges had to finish their drinks and leave, according to a report by Officer J.T. Favors.
“Mr. Nichols became belligerent and defiant,” Favors wrote. “Mr. Nichols stated he was a police officer as if he had special privileges and was not bound to comply with our directives…stating that one day we would possibly need MARTA to back us up.”
MARTA spokesman Lyle Harris said on Monday that an ongoing internal investigation of the arrested officers prohibited him from commenting.
Hodges stayed relatively quiet and he initially appeared to diffuse the confrontation by escorting Nichols to their cars, the police report said. Nichols then used a racial slur, according to the report.
“At that point I had enough of his disruptive public display,” Favors wrote. He said he then called for on-duty police.
Hodges, who described himself as a MARTA police sergeant, “aggressively exited his SUV” and became hostile upon learning the authorities were on the way, Favors wrote.
“I quickly advised him not to curse at me and reminded him that he was a police officer conducting himself in less than honorable fashion,” Favors wrote.
Hodges and Nichols were cited for disorderly conduct. Nichols was also cited for public intoxication.
Records show Hodges and Nicholas were released on bond about two hours after their arrests.
After the arrests, MARTA said the two officers were placed on paid administrative leave while an internal investigation is conducted.
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