A Woodstock police sergeant has been placed on paid administrative leave amid an internal use-of-force investigation after a man he arrested earlier this month suffered a fractured leg at a popular bowling alley.
Sgt. Randy Milligan, a 13-year department veteran who supervises Woodstock’s Special Operations Group, will remain on leave pending the outcome of the investigation, Woodstock police spokeswoman Brittany Page said Wednesday.
Milligan was working a second job at Stars and Strikes along Ga. 92 on April 6 when the bowling alley’s manager alerted him to a customer who appeared unresponsive, according to an incident report.
The man, identified by police as Calvin Jamel Taylor of Hollywood, Fla., was slumped over in a chair near the pool table area and did not wake up despite several attempts by Milligan to rouse him, according to the report.
Credit: Cherokee County Sheriff's Office
Credit: Cherokee County Sheriff's Office
Milligan was eventually able to wake the man, who had dilated pupils and slurred, incoherent speech, the report states. He tried to help Taylor outside the establishment for medical treatment when the 38-year-old became combative, according to police.
“Taylor turned around directly toward me, striking my arm with his to purposefully force me away,” Milligan wrote in his report, adding that the man began yelling obscenities and threatening the officer while families and their children were around.
Milligan tried to arrest the man, who continued to resist, the report states. So the police sergeant used his Taser.
“Upon being struck, Taylor had no reaction, pulled the wires away from his body and looked at me yelling ‘now what, (expletive)’” while taking an aggressive stance, Milligan wrote.
The officer used his Taser again, but Taylor continued to resist by hanging onto a railing and refusing to let go, according to the report.
Milligan then used his police baton, striking Taylor several times on the arm and leg as backup arrived and six officers were able to subdue him.
A subsequent X-ray taken at Kennestone Hospital revealed Taylor suffered a broken leg, according to the incident report.
Milligan wrote that his body camera was not turned on during the struggle because he left it charging at police headquarters. The incident was recorded by at least two cameras at the bowling alley, however, and the footage will be reviewed as part of the internal investigation.
Taylor is charged with simple battery of a law enforcement officer, public intoxication, disorderly conduct and obstruction, records show.
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