The Clayton County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday released the name and personnel file of the deputy, since fired, who was filmed striking a passenger after a recent traffic stop.
Brandon Myers had been with the agency since November and had earned no commendations or admonitions before last week when Sheriff Victor Hill fired him, according to department records. Videos of the incident that left Roderick Walker bruised and swollen sparked outrage.
“We are currently meeting with the family to come up with legal support and next steps for community action,” the Georgia NAACP said in a statement soon after.
Myers is white. Walker is Black.
Walker, 26, was a passenger in a Jeep that was pulled over. Another deputy involved in the arrest, D. Riddick, said in a report that he asked Walker for his license because he wasn’t wearing a seat belt. Georgia law says drivers and front-seat passengers must wear seat belts; violators can be fined.
Walker said he didn’t have ID and declined to give his name, then tried to run when Riddick tried to handcuff him, the report said.
After the deputies got Walker on the ground, he elbowed Riddick in the face, “causing my nose and lip to bleed,” Riddick wrote.
Riddick said Walker continued to struggle and bit Myers on the thigh. On cell phone video clips that have circulated in the days since the incident, Myers is heard saying Walker bit his hand. Riddick tased Walker, the report said.
“Myself and Deputy Myers grabbed Walker and attempted to place him into handcuffs,” Riddick wrote. “Walker continued to fight and resist arrest by kicking, elbowing, head butting and biting.”
Riddick said he and Myers punched Walker “due to Walker trying to get back up and move around.”
Walker’s attorney, Shean Williams, blasted the way deputies handled the arrest.
“Our client ends up being beaten in his face and throughout his body to the point he goes unconscious,” he said, “all because of an alleged traffic violation.”
The sheriff’s office said there is no body camera footage and didn’t explain why.
Walker is charged with two counts each of battery and obstruction. Clayton County jail staff turned him over to the Fulton County jail due to a probation violation. He was released on a signature bond Thursday and is scheduled to address reporters at 11 a.m. Friday with his mother, girlfriend and attorneys at The Cochran Firm in downtown Atlanta.
Riddick is still employed by the sheriff’s office. Myers, who had faced no prior disciplinary action, couldn’t be reached for comment. Before joining Clayton County, he worked for two years with the Savannah Police Department. He left there voluntarily, according to state records.
On his application for Clayton County, Myers said he dealt well with stressful situations.
“I am a great team player, highly motivated, quick thinking for stress and reacting to stressful situations," he wrote. "I am able to quickly and effectively take control of a situation. I am fair and unbiased in my policing. I am extremely aggressive and proactive in my policing abilities.”
— Data specialist Jennifer Peebles contributed to this article.
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