Authorities have filed criminal charges against two Gwinnett County police officers fired after videos surfaced showing a controversial traffic stop.
Michael Bongiovanni, 42, and Robert McDonald, 25 were charged with misdemeanor battery and violation of their oaths of office, which is a felony. The Gwinnett County District Attorney is considering dropping more cases.
Firing of Gwinnett cops: Decisive justice or rush to judgment? In it, McDonald, who was assisting Bongiovanni, emerged from off screen and kicked Hollis while he was on the ground.
Bongiovanni's attorney, Michael J. Puglise, said his client "stands by actions and maintains his innocence", and plans to turn himself in Thursday.
A second video appears to show Bongiovanni punch Hollins in the head as he steps out of his vehicle with his hands up.
It's now unknown if McDonald has an attorney.
McDonald was forthcoming, saying he was wrong for kicking Hollins, officials said.
Police say Hollins had been stopped for turning without signaling and driving without a license plate, though Hollins says the license was in the rear window.
Apparently, none of those previous incidents were captured on video.
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"It doesn't matter how he hit Hollins if he was not justified in doing it", he said.
Hollins first encountered Bongiovanni in 2016 when he was arrested for obstructing law enforcement, marijuana possession and another drug count, according to WXIA.
The incident began when Bongiovanni pulled over Demetrius Hollins in a routine traffic stop, according to Ayers.
But unknowing to Gwinnett County Police Sergeant Mike Bongiovanni, he was being recorded by another citizen witnessing the altercation from their auto.
Bongiovanni and McDonald then came back with guns pointed in his face, threatening to break his jaw, Hollins said. In one video, McDonald was shown kicking a handcuffed man. He recalled getting out of his vehicle with his hands up when Bongiovanni hit him.
Bongiovanni, a 19-year veteran, who was suspended in 2014 for dereliction of duties, has had 90 incidents, 67 use of force, and 12 citizen complaints, WXIA reported. He also received numerous commendations from Gwinnett police, including a Purple Heart medal for pulling a family from a burning auto.
McDonald, in his third year with Gwinnett police, was involved in four use-of-force cases - three of them with Bongiovanni.
"Police no longer own the narrative", Stinson said, but still get the benefit of the doubt.
The officers have until the end of the business day Thursday to turn themselves in.
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