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South Fulton police officer suspended for 3 days for confrontation caught on video

SOUTH FULTON, Ga. — A South Fulton police officer will serve a three-day suspension for a traffic confrontation with a community activist that was caught on video.

An investigation found Corporal Solomon Muhammad violated department policy for the Jan. 29 incident.

Activist Marcus Coleman said he was driving by a terrible crash on Roosevelt Highway and Rocky Hill Road and was afraid another crash was about to happen.

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Coleman said he saw no one conducting traffic and approached Muhammad to ask him why no one else was directing traffic.

The two exchanged words back and forth, but the confrontation did not get physical until Coleman said he would contact South Fulton Police Chief Keith Meadows. Video showed Muhammad walk up, slap the camera away and take Coleman to the ground.

“Police officers are entrusted with an incredible amount of authority & there should always be a balance between authority and accountability,” said Kevin Myles with the NAACP.

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The Georgia Bureau of Investigation handled the investigation into the incident and Muhammad was placed on administrative leave.

In the GBI report, the officer said “Mr. Coleman later pushed his cell phone hit me directly with his cell phone to my face as he continued filming. Mr. Coleman hit me directly with his cell phone…”

However, body camera video did not support that, which is how city officials came to the decision to suspend the officer for three days.

Fernandes spoke with a few city officials Monday, however they said a civil lawsuit prevented them from issuing any comments. Coleman is asking for a new investigation.

The Fulton County District Attorney’s office is reviewing the GBI report and will make a decision on how to proceed.

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