Woodstock Officer Fired In Use Of Force Probe: Police

Updated 8:46 p.m.

WOODSTOCK, GA — A Woodstock police officer has been fired after being accused of using excessive force during a weekend traffic stop.

Woodstock Police said officer Justin Davis violated the department's use of force policies while arresting a driver around 10 p.m. Sunday near Main Street.

The driver was accused of reckless driving and speeding, was arrested and taken to the Cherokee County Jail after medical evaluation, police said.

While arresting the driver, police said "a level of physical force" was used. Police did not fully detail the suspected use of force.

The driver, who was identified in a WXIA-TV report as a woman, filed a formal complaint against Woodstock Police on Tuesday, police said.

She told the TV news outlet that she was speeding to help a friend who was having a diabetic episode get food. She accused Davis of lunging at her, shoving her to the ground and pushing her head into the ground with his knee, per the WXIA report.

Authorities reviewed body camera footage and ultimately decided to dismiss the charges against the driver, police said.

However, after authorities opened an internal investigation into the incident Wednesday, police said they found Davis violated multiple policies within the department. During the probe, he was placed on administrative leave but has since been terminated, effective Thursday, police said.

Other officers at the scene were cleared of any wrongdoing, police said.

“The trust of our community is built on accountability and transparency,” Woodstock Police Chief Robert Jones said in a news release. “We have a duty to uphold the law and the standards of our department without compromise. Taking responsibility when those standards are breached is essential to earning and keeping the trust of our community.”

Davis has not publicly commented on the incident.

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