Atlanta police officer arrested for hitting girlfriend
An Atlanta police officer once involved in an altercation that ended up costing the city $350,000 was arrested Thursday on domestic violence charges.
Terence Alexander, 41, an 11-year veteran of the force, is accused of hitting his 18-year-old girlfriend, a charge he denies, APD spokesman James Polite said.
DeKalb Police arrested Alexander at his Briarcliff Road apartment where Aleka Simmons said the assault occurred. Alexander told officers Simmons hit him and that he was merely trying to hold her down, Polite said.
Alexander, already under investigation for an undisclosed work-related incident, has been placed on administrative leave pending a meeting with Chief George Turner that will determine his future with the department.
He's been fired by the APD once before, in 2005, after surveillance video captured him slamming a woman to the ground and arresting her for a parking violation while moonlighting at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The assault victim, Diana Dietrich-Barnes, sued the city and settled for $350,000.
Then-Police Chief Richard Pennington sacked Alexander for using unnecessary force but the department's civil service board overturned the decision. Alexander was rehired despite having been either reprimanded or suspended without pay 13 times for violating departmental rules.
About the Author
A native Atlantan, Boone joined the AJC staff in 2007. He quickly carved out a niche covering crime stories, assuming the public safety beat in 2014. He's covered some of the biggest trials this decade, from Hemy Neuman to Ross Harris to Chip Olsen, the latter of which was featured on Season 7 of the AJC's award-winning "Breakdown" podcast.
