A civil suit filed Friday against Henry County accuses officials of mishandling the investigation after a police officer was filmed choking former NFL player Desmond Marrow.
“Henry County can be the first beacon of hope throughout the nation to change this issue in policing that has come up over and over and over again,” Marrow’s attorney, Gerald Griggs, said during a news conference.
Rose was fired after a video surfaced showing him choking Marrow while he was handcuffed on the ground.
Henry County Police Department investigators viewed the video four months before it became public and found Rose committed no wrongdoing. A second investigation ended with his termination.
He rejected a plea deal that carried a sentence of 12 months probation.
“He couldn’t come in and plead to something that would make him a criminal,” his attorney, Lee Sexton said. “He’s taking a risk of a felony conviction and possibly going to prison.”
Rose turned himself in Thursday and was released on a $21,000 bond. The Henry County District Attorney’s Office has said it does not comment on pending litigation.
“For me, it’s not really about Officer Rose,” Marrow said during the Friday news conference. “The main thing to me that matters is about the people in Henry County.”
L. Chris Stewart, another of Marrow’s attorneys, called the indictments on Thursday historic. The civil case, he said, aims to hold the county accountable.
“It’s about their position politically and money,” Stewart said. “And that’s fine, we’ll continue down this path and continue to say publicly what is happening in the civil case, so people can see what their leadership is truly doing.”
The incident began with a call to Henry County police regarding aggressive driving in a Target parking lot on Jonesboro Road in McDonough. Rose and his partner, Matthew Donaldson, responded. Marrow was soon handcuffed, forced to the ground and choked.
“Imagine being famous for being beaten on video,” Stewart said. “You’re famous for getting slammed on your head and getting choked.”
The first internal investigation conducted by Internal Affairs Division Maj. Mike Ireland said Rose’s hand “was placed in the area of Mr. Marrow’s neck (and) does not appear to be intentional.”
After video of the incident went viral the department conducted another investigation. That time, Henry Police Chief Mark Ammerman condemned Rose’s actions and the officer was fired.
Marrow’s attorneys said they hope the civil case and continued attention to the issue will set a national message about police accountability and excessive use of force.
“It’s time for the blue wall to fail,” Griggs said. “It’s time for it to come down. It’s time for justice, and it starts because of Desmond Marrow.”
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