A Roswell police officer accused of punching a woman in the jaw during an arrest was cleared during the department’s investigation, officials said.
Officer Van Alstine was cleared in the Nov. 9 incident after Chief Rusty Grant said in a memo that the punch was "justified, lawful and proper." Alstine was exonerated of the claims July 31.
Officials opened an investigation into the incident after Alstine admitted he punched Shanita Maeberry when she became combative during an arrest in the parking lot of a Shell gas station after being suspected of having marijuana.
Maeberry and a friend, Alfonso Barnes, were pulled over after Alstine smelled marijuana coming from Barnes’ car, according to Roswell police. Maeberry admitted to smoking, but when officers attempted to place her under arrest, she became resistant and hit Alstine, the cop said in a December interview about the case.
“And it wasn’t just a tap,” he said. “I mean, it was a slap and she slapped the hell out of me, is what she did.”
Maeberry continued resisting until Alstine punched her.
“I could see basically her chin ... and in order to stop her and stop this violence that was being offered against me, I used my right hand and threw one strike,” Alstine said. “I punched ... somewhere on the middle of the jaw.”
Alstine told officials he tried to hold back on the amount of force used because he wasn’t trying to hurt her.
“In a situation like that, the officer has the ability to defend himself,” Alstine’s lawyer, Scott Poole, told Channel 2 Action News. “The reality is he still has to effectuate the arrest.”
A bloody-mouthed Maeberry complained of her injuries at the Fulton County jail and was later taken to a hospital.
She was charged with marijuana possession and obstruction. Barnes was arrested on a marijuana possession charge.
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