DeKalb officer resigns after extortion allegations

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — The DeKalb County district attorney is investigating a report that a former DeKalb officer is accused of trying toextort money from people inside a Clairmont Road restaurant.

According to internal reports obtained by Channel 2 Action News, Officer Brandon Brown was working off-duty at Meskerem Ethiopian Restaurant Aug. 6, when an employee told him some people inside were smoking marijuana.

The report said Brown approached the people and told them they would be ticketed and fined $500.

According to the report, Brown told them, "If you want me to look out for you I don't mind, but do realize nothing is free. We can work it out, just holla at me later, but it's going to be $50."

Channel 2's Dave Huddleston talked with DeKalb County Police Chief Cedric Alexander about the case.

"We called him in during our initial internal affairs investigation and immediately the officer resigned from the department. Any time we have someone go outside the law, and every call we go to after that we also got to hear, you feel a little awkward because you wonder if people see you as being a bad guy because of the mistake that one or two other people made," Alexander said.

A person used their cellphone and recorded an officer, who police say is Brown, holding money in his hand and when he realizes he is being recorded goes after the person with the cellphone.

A spokesperson with the District Attorney's Office said they received a copy of the internal report and are deciding if any charges will be filed.

WSBTV