Atlanta

Man charged with felony after blowing into officer’s face amid coronavirus pandemic

By Michael Seiden, WSB-TV
By Michael Seiden, WSB-TV

ATLANTA — For five weeks now, we've witnessed the importance of social distancing and sheltering in place.

While most have complied with the governor's order, law enforcement officers are still encountering hundreds of people who either have no clue about the order or couldn't care less about protecting themselves and others.

Channel 2’s Michael Seiden has learned that a man has been charged with blowing into an officer’s face.

This body camera footage gives us a glimpse of a recent encounter between game wardens and a group of boaters accused of defying the governor's order.

The Department of Natural Resources said the group of boaters were not practicing social distancing after gathering in a group of more than 10 people.

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"It's alright that you're all anchored out here together, but you've got to make sure you stay apart at least six feet," you can hear the game warden tell the boaters on body camera video. "We're trying to make sure this executive order is abided by."

Since March 31, DNR agents have issued 476 verbal warnings, including incidents at West Point Lake where a crowd of 20 people gathered at a sand bar.

Another 30 people received verbal warnings following a large gathering at Red Top State Park.

"For us, it's really been about educating the public, explaining what the order says and once we do that most people comply with that order," said Col. Thomas Barnard with the DNR.

But not everyone is listening.

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Channel 2 Action News obtained the mugshot of David Ramzanali. The 20-year-old arrested in Rabun County on a felony charge of obstruction after authorities say he blew into an officer’s face.

On Wednesday, Seiden spoke with the Gwinnett County man about the incident. He told said he and his four friends were hiking in Tallulah Gorge State Park when they wandered off the trail and ended up in a restricted area.

Ramzanali said everything was fine until the officer asked him if he had been drinking.

“I blow toward his direction to show him that my breath doesn’t smell like alcohol,” Ramzanali said. “That’s when he charged at me, threw me to the ground and then put me in handcuffs.”

“Obviously you know what the coronavirus is, so you could understand why law enforcement or really anybody would be so upset if somebody blew in their face?” Seiden asked Ramzanali.

“I totally understand all that. I wasn’t thinking about what’s going on, on the earth right now or anything like that,” Ramzanali said.

"That's my fear of them having to engage and then obviously contracting the coronavirus itself,” Barnard told Seiden.

“Have any of your officers actually contracted it?” Seiden asked Barnard.

“We have one actually now that has and others who have self-quarantined after being in close contact," Barnard said.

Barnard said it's unclear where the officer contracted the virus, but he's expected to make a full recovery.

"We're our targeting those areas that we know folks normally like to hang out in large groups," Barnard said.

With this the new normal for now, Barnard said the DNR will keep a close eye on the public working around the clock to keep everyone safe.

"When you look at our numbers, it's been verbal guidance and most people will do the right thing. But for those who want to take it to the next level, we will cite people for reckless conduct,” Barnard said.

During the first two weeks of April, Georgia State Patrol troopers said they responded to 976 complaints of Georgians violating social distancing.

Among those calls, less than half were actually sustained and investigators cited 18 people but warned 209.

National Guard to open new free coronavirus testing sites this week This is part of the statewide testing effort Gov. Brian Kemp promised when he announced Monday that he was reopening businesses.

© 2020 Cox Media Group

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