Local

Officer suspended after pulling gun on group of children

HENRY COUNTY, Ga — The Henry County police officer accused of pulling out his gun on a group of children will be suspended.

Channel 2’s Aaron Diamant spoke with one of the boys and his mother, minutes after learning of the suspension.

Ferrod Wiliams, 14, said two Henry County police officers gave him and his friends the scare of their lives late March.

"Out of the corner of my eye they came running up with the gun told us to get on the ground, and as they said that, we got on the ground, and then they told us to get up slowly like we was 18-year-old adults," Ferrod said.

Ferrod admits he and his friends were chopping off some of the tree branches without the owners' permission, but said he was fearful when he saw the gun.

"Like, oh my gosh, I thought I was going to be dead, I was going to get arrested, all that."

The boy’s parents filed a complaint with Henry County police, which launched an investigation. Wednesday, Channel 2 Action News confirmed officer Joseph Collins, the officer who pulled out the gun, will be suspended for two days and will get hours of more training.

But Ferrod’s mother wants a more severe action to be taken.

"I don't think that's acceptable. You have no right pulling a gun on 11-year-old children," Sherrese Williams said. "I want him to be fired. I really do."

She said she’s furthermore upset because she fears the incident will last longer after Collins’ suspension is up.

"He's scared of the police. I didn't teach him to be scared of the police, you know, I taught him to respect the police. Now, how can he respect the police," Sherrese said.