ATLANTA — Editor's note: APD previously said it would not release bodycam video pertaining to this case until it was adjudicated. However, video was released Friday night. Read more here.
Original story below:
The attorney for a metro Atlanta judge who was arrested at a Buckhead lounge believes her charges should be dropped.
Attorney and Fulton County Commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr. held a news conference Friday to discuss the incident that led to Judge Christina Peterson's arrest at the Red Martini on Peachtree Street early Thursday morning.
Arrington said Peterson was trying to help a woman who was being attacked by an unnamed man.
"This is living proof of no good deed goes unpunished," said Arrington. "They simply want to know why the man was not arrested and why was Judge Peterson arrested for simply trying to be a good Samaritan and help a woman that was in distress."
Peterson stood at the podium with Arrington and the two witnesses, but she did not make any remarks at Friday's news conference. She is charged with felony willful obstruction of a police officer by using threats or violence and simple battery against a police officer, according to Fulton County Jail records.
The woman, Alexandria Love, broke out in tears as she described what happened and the moments when Peterson swooped in to help.
"He viciously attacked me, fist force punched me in my face, and she was the only one that helped me," Love said.
Love told reporters on Friday that she believes Peterson accidentally hit the officer, mistaking the officer as her attacker.
"She didn't mean to hit the officer. The officer swooped in and grabbed me up. So when she saw him grabbing me, she didn't know it was the officer. She thought I was still being hurt and attacked," Love added.
Love said once Peterson was in the patrol car in handcuffs, all officers left the scene, and her attacker walked free, leaving her feeling helpless.
"Officers were nowhere in sight until after this lady [Peterson] was already in a police car. Five police cars came; they all left when they took her. I had to sit there and call 911 and just feel horrible that nobody actually helped me. I've never been in that situation before in my life," she said.
Madison Shannon Kelly, Love's friend, took a video of the incident. Kelly thanked Peterson for her actions that night at Friday's news conference.
"She didn't even think twice, and that's rare for a stranger when I saw other people who knew me, who just stood there and looked; that was crazy to me," Kelly said.
Kelly all shared what she said she saw.
"This man was three times my friend's size," she said. "I was trying to grab men around us to help; by the time I turn around, I see this person just flying by me I didn't know who she was, but I just know she helped my friend and if she hadn't helped, I don't know what we would be saying today."
Although Peterson did not speak, Arrington spoke about what was on the judge's mind.
"Certainly, she does not know these women. They did not know her. They just know that she was the person that tried to help save this young lady," Arrington said. "I think in the heat of the moment, a lot of things happened, and maybe the officers got confused, but certainly someone should have at least investigated or taken these people's names and numbers. Five police cars left the scene without speaking to the victim."
Arrington is calling for the Atlanta Police Department to arrest the man who attacked the woman, dismiss Peterson's charges, release body camera footage and any surveillance footage, and for District Attorney Fani Willis to investigate the case.
APD told 11Alive Friday morning that body camera video pertaining to this incident wouldn't be released until the case is adjudicated.