Former officer charged with murder of Rayshard Brooks waives first appearance

ATLANTA — Former Atlanta police officer Garrett Rolfe waived his first court appearance Friday.

Channel 2′s Justin Wilfon was at the courthouse, where Rolfe’s lawyers were supposed to appear with him but they also did not show up.

He turned himself into the Fulton County Jail Thursday, but then officials transferred him to the Gwinnett County Jail.

Rolfe turned himself in just one day after Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard charged him with murder and 10 other charges, including aggravated assault.

Rolfe was brought in through a side door where he could avoid our camera.

He’s being held in jail with no bond.

The other officer, Devin Brosnan, whose facing three charges, including aggravated assault, turned himself in and quickly bonded out. He had no comment.

THE SHOOTING:

The charges stem from the weekend police shooting that killed the 27-year-old father of four, who was found sleeping in a car in the drive-thru of a southwest Atlanta Wendy’s.

“He’s very concerned,” Brosnan’s lawyer, Don Samuel, said. “He’s a law enforcement officer, he’s a police man. He’s obviously never had any problems with the law before, never had an disciplinary issues.”

During his news conference, Howard said the district attorney’s office was able to interview 10 witnesses to the shooting and watch eight videos that recorded the event. Those videos included surveillance, body camera and personal cellphone video. They also viewed physical evidence, including inspecting the crime scene, canvassing the area and examining the Tasers that were used prior to bringing these charges against the officers. (WATCH the raw video of Paul Howard’s news conference at the bottom of this story)

[11 charges, including murder, for officer who shot Rayshard Brooks; 2nd officer also charged]

Howard said they concluded from witness statements and the videos that Brooks never presented himself as a threat.

“Even though Mr. Brooks was slightly impaired, his demeanor during this incident was almost jovial,” Howard said. “For 41 minutes and 17 seconds he followed every instruction, he answered the questions. Mr. Brooks never displayed any aggressive behavior during the 41 minutes and 17 seconds.”

People continue to gather at growing memorial for Rayshard Brooks Things were calm Thursday afternoon after the two police officers accused in Brooks' death turned themselves in.

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