Gwinnett County's district attorney intends to seek new felony charges against the now-former police officers caught on camera striking a motorist during a 2017 traffic stop.
And the attorney representing that motorist is “relieved.”
“We are relieved to hear that the District Attorney's Office is taking the necessary steps to address the criminal aspect of the behavior exhibited,” Justin D. Miller, the attorney for Demetrius Hollins, wrote in an email to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“[The]officers' actions have had a debilitating effect on our client and we are grateful to those members of the Gwinnett County community who chose not to look the other way, but instead chose to document this incident.”
Hollins, 21 at the time, was hit and kicked in the head by Gwinnett officers Michael Bongiovanni and Robert McDonald during an April 2017 traffic stop near Lawrenceville. Bongiovanni and McDonald were quickly fired and charged with battery and violating their oath of office shortly thereafter.
As reported Wednesday by The AJC and Channel 2 Action News, Gwinnett County District Attorney Danny Porter intends to seek an indictment against Bongiovanni and McDonald later this month — and will pursue more serious (and more controversial) charges than were originally filed against the officers.
About the Author
