ATLANTA — After getting a firsthand look at the body camera footage of the arrest and eventual death of Deacon Johnny Hollman, experts are weighing in on what went wrong and what was considered protocol.
They reviewed Hollman's interaction with former Atlanta police officer Kiran Kimbrough.
Charles Rambo is a retired lieutenant. He watched the hour-long arrest video in its entirety.
"The officer and citizen interaction went to another level," Rambo said.
After criminal defense attorney Darryl Cohen saw it, he believes Hollman would still be alive if he'd complied.
"To me, it’s very sad," Cohen said. "And it goes back to an old song by Aretha Franklin called, 'Respect.' Had this gentleman, who's now deceased, just signed the ticket, none of this would have happened."
WARNING Graphic content: Release of Johnny Hollman police tasing death bodycam | Full video
Rambo said citizens are responsible, just as the officers are, for de-escalation. According to Georgia law, drivers must sign citations. However, Rambo holds Kimbrough accountable for punching and using a stun gun on Hollman multiple times.
"Mr. Hollman was not showing any degree of being agitated to the point of attacking the officer," Rambo said.
Rambo said the use of force was too much.
"Over the totality of the circumstances, is it reasonable and necessary? In my humble estimation, as an expert witness, no."
Still, Cohen believes murder charges against Kimbrough are unlikely.
"I thought that he overreacted," Cohen said. "I don't, personally, see any criminal charges against him."
He breaks down the possibilities.
"At the very worst, I think we've got involuntary manslaughter," Cohen said. "At the very best, we have no criminal charges."
However, Cohen said District Attorney Fani Willis could see it differently.
"If she decides to bring charges, [she can] do it absent something from the GBI," Willis said. "In my view, she will wait to see what the GBI has to say."
Cohen predicts the family will pursue a civil suit and seek compensation.
Hollman can be heard in the video saying he couldn't breathe at least 15 times. Rambo said more extensive aid should have been given as officers waited for an ambulance to arrive. He sees the video as a reminder that future interactions shouldn't end like this.
"Your approach is more important than your authority in these types of situations," Rambo said.