The Probate judge in Georgia who was arrested for allegedly assaulting an officer has released cell phone footage to help her case.
The former Probate judge in Georgia who was arrested last week for allegedly assaulting a police officer has released cell phone footage in an attempt to help her case.
Former Douglas County Probate Judge Christina Peterson, 38, says there’s more to her case than what was shown in police bodycam footage, 11 Alive reports. Her attorney, Marvin Arrington, shared newly obtained cell phone footage of the melee that ignited ahead of Peterson’s arrest.
A clip shared online shows a woman and man fighting outside of Red Martini Restaurant and Lounge, in Buckhead, Atlanta. The woman, who identifies herself as Alexandria Love, and another man exchange blows with the man seen punching Love several times and knocking her to the ground.
Eventually, Peterson comes into the frame and tries to break up the fight. That’s when an officer stepped in to stop the commotion. But Arrington says Peterson was so distracted by the chaos, that she had no idea an officer was nearby when she allegedly struck him.
“She didn’t even know the officer was there,” Arrington said.
Arrest warrants say Peterson was taken into custody after hitting the officer who arrived to de-escalate the situation. Body camera footage shows her being handcuffed while onlookers demanded for officers to let her go. Another video sees Peterson arguing with an officer from inside the squad car while refusing to identify herself.
Authorities ended up releasing the bodycam footage on Friday, June 21, prior to the case being abjucated. Police remained vague on why the footage was released.
“This is an open and active investigation. There are no further details to release at this time,” the Atlanta Police Department said.
On Tuesday, June 25, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that Peterson should be removed from office after an ongoing investigation into separate ethics charges.
“Accordingly, it is ordered that Judge Christina Peterson of the Douglas County Probate Court be removed from office, effective upon the date of this opinion,” the court ruled.
“Ever since I was elected, people started filing charges, frivolous complaints against me. Baseless complaints,” she told Big Tigger.
“It’s kind of how they ran it in the media. They tried me in the court of public opinion instead of really looking to see if I did anything,” Peterson explained. “Nothing I have done has been willful.”
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Source: Black Enterprise
