ATLANTA — Atlanta Police say they are weighing whether to drop the charges against a woman who was thrown to the ground and tased by officers earlier this month. The intense encounter all happened in front of the woman's 4-year-old daughter.
Video of Maggie Thomas' arrest on May 1 sparked outrage. The confrontation started when an officer approached her about an arrest warrant for a speeding ticket.
An officer patrolling Boulevard went behind an apartment complex and spotted a woman sitting in a silver Infiniti car. According to the Atlanta Police incident report, the officer had been advised to be on the lookout for a car of that model, so he approached the woman in the front seat -- Thomas.
The officer questioned Thomas about her car and noted that she became "agitated" during the exchange. The officer then reportedly drove off, but "began to wonder why she became so agitated at my mere presence,” the report stated. The officer then ran her name through a criminal database and found she had an outstanding warrant for a speeding ticket out of Atlanta.
The officer called backup and went back to the apartment, where Thomas was sitting in the car with her 4-year-old daughter.
The officer asked for her driver’s license and she refused to give any information, including her name. The situation quickly escalated, and that’s when people in the crowd started filming. One of the videos has been shared by attorney Gerald Griggs, who has represented several high-profile cases in the Atlanta area.
In the video released by Griggs, the little girl is seen running frantically and screaming as the police officer laid on top of her mother.
“Are you trying to kill me?” Thomas can be heard saying in the video as the officer sat on top of her, trying to restrain her.
Thomas refused to give the officer her right hand and he tased her, according to the police report. In the video, she screamed for help while her little girl asked if she was going to jail.
In an interview with 11Alive's Nick Sturdivant, Griggs said that his client should have been protected by her Fourth Amendment rights, protecting her against unlawful search and seizure.
As the officer gained control of Thomas, she began to resist again as he tried to get her into his police car, according to the report. She allegedly bit the officer in the hand and he punched her in the face, causing her to fall to the ground, according to the police report. Two other officers arrived on scene and got her into the car. Griggs denied claims that Thomas bit the officer.
Thomas was charged with disorderly conduct physical obstruction. She had a swollen left eye and was treated by medical staff. They also examined the officer’s hand, which had no visible bite marks, according to the report. Thomas was taken to Atlanta City Jail.
When asked for a statement, Atlanta Police confirmed that "based on the investigation by our Office of Professional Standards, the chief recommended that consideration be given to dismissing the charge against Ms. Thomas."
Police, however, have still not confirmed whether the charges were indeed dropped against Thomas.
On Monday, Thomas and Griggs spoke from outside her apartment, where the incident happened, to announce that they met with Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields.
Griggs said Shields watched the video of the encounter and apologized to Thomas and her daughter for what happened.
"I credit them for being open to having dialogue, sitting down and accepting responsibility for what actually happened here," Griggs said.
Griggs claimed that Chief Shields said she would recommend charges be dropped against Thomas, but neither the department, nor the District Attorney's Office - who would actually be the one to dismiss the charges - have confirmed that.
Both Griggs and Thomas credited the department for meeting so quickly, and said they are looking forward to having continued dialogue with city leadership.
"I believe the higher level of police are ready for change," Griggs said. "We have to make sure the rank-and-file understand there will be accountability if situations escalate, but we want to work together to see that happen."
Griggs emphasized the role the video played in the situation, adding that community engagement and pressure from outside parities was key in even getting a meeting with city leadership.
"Without the video, there would have been a different outcome," Griggs said.
He added that they are calling for the officer to be terminated, pointing to the officer alleging Thomas bit him.
"This tape is quite clear, Ms. Thomas, at no time, did she offer any type of force or violence toward law enforcement, she was actually very compliant and asking for a supervisor," he said.
As for Thomas, she said she never expected to be in a situation where she felt brutalized by police.
"I would have never expected to experience that first-hand," she said. "And then my daughter being there? That makes me very sad."
Thomas said she was pleased by the compassion Shields showed during the meeting, and she doesn't hold the entire department responsible for what happened to her. But, she said she'll probably ever feel secure around police ever again.
"I can't blame the entire force for one officer's action, but it does make it difficult to deal with them going forward," she admitted. "I'm relieved there's some type of light being shed, but as far as happy, I don't think I'll be that for a while."
"Having my daughter witness that and hearing her cry - I can't really say how it could have turned out, because it could have turned out worse," she added.
Meanwhile, Griggs said there still could be a legal suit coming, but they are still exploring all options, including pushing for policy and legislative changes.
"It's not about being anti-police, it's about being pro-community, and bringing the community together," he concluded.