Video Of Athens Police Officer Beating Drunk Fraternity Member Surfaces
Back on June 13, Athens police was called to a local Marriott hotel in response to an intoxicated trespasser. The trespasser was 19-year-old UGA student Michael Roquet, who is also a member of Phi Kappa Tau. A 17-year veteran of the force, Jonathan Fraser, led Michael to a parking lot next to the Phi Kappa Tau house where he asked him to go inside. Michael did not comply. After breaking free of Fraser’s hold, Roquet attempted to go inside the house when Fraser took him to the ground and beat him with his baton.
Here is the video of the incident (The incident begins around the 6:55 mark):
In his initial report, Fraser made mention that Roquet had struck him, and that is why he used excessive force. This video shows that Fraser was lying. He also tried to justify his decision because he was “tunnel visioned” and “knows he is out of shape.” Fraser also failed to comply with the protocol of calling for medical assistance for the injured student. Roquet suffered a concussion and had multiple bumps on his head.
On July 3, the Athens Police Department fired Fraser for his actions.
From Red And Black:
Jonathan Fraser, a 17-year veteran officer with the Athens-Clarke County police, was fired July 3 after an internal investigation concluded that he used excessive force in arresting 19-year-old student Michael Roquet during an incident early in the morning on June 13.
“This kind of action, of course, is not going to be tolerated by the Athens-Clarke County police department,” said ACC Police Chief Scott Freeman. “And I have to say this – and I keep re-iterating this – this is not typical for an Athens-Clarke County police officer. It is very embarrassing for the police department, but we are taking ownership of it because this is not who we are as an agency.”
Good on Athens police to rid themselves of Fraser. Should Michael have complied with the initial requests to go in the house? Yes, but Fraser had no right to beat this kid down for it..
[via Red And Black]
This kid was being a fucking idiot, when a cop’s letting you go just fucking go.
10 years ago at 11:05 amI’ll go ahead and lace up, because apparently I’m in the minority here, but when someone in authority is wrong, someone else has to stand up to it. This cop was way out of line. The whole idea of, ‘the guy in authority, with the monopoly of force, is letting you go, so just accept his mercy and leave,’ bothers me. “…to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed”
10 years ago at 6:18 pmVideo is too long. The cop fucked around with him for about 7 minutes before he whopped his ass. 7 minutes is plenty of time to leave the property as instructed.
10 years ago at 11:11 amYou can really see how cops are going to start acting with these body cams: They face their chest away from the subject and talk at them so that little to none of it (they hope) will get on camera. I support cops but they just really blow sometimes.
10 years ago at 11:15 amNow comes the question: do we riot, or do we act like we are better people than the filth?
10 years ago at 11:29 amDumbass kid. Dumbass cop. Only difference is one of them is supposed to be an adult here.
10 years ago at 11:35 amTelling a police officer you’ve lived at the hotel “for years”. TFM
10 years ago at 11:45 amWhy the fuck is the video 28:00 minutes long
10 years ago at 12:52 pmVery original username, geed.
10 years ago at 1:18 pm“I realize that” No. No you clearly do not.
10 years ago at 10:32 pmBecause the slope is incredibly slippery when peaceful demonstration collides with public intox, trespass, and obstruction. https://twitter.com/smolenskylaw/status/634013918944493569
10 years ago at 9:52 amThis gave me a boner, the kid had so many chances to fucking go home but he stayed a pissed off the officer, if it were a black guy the police officer wouldn’t have asked him more and would be dead probably. Kid got what he deserved
10 years ago at 10:01 am