Fired Athens-Clarke Co. officer faces charges

ATHENS, Ga. - An Athens-Clarke County police officer was caught on camera beating a University of Georgia student. That officer is now out of job and charged with a felony.

The Athens-Clarke County police chief said what former officer Jonathan Fraser wrote in his police report does not match the body camera video. He called the 17-year officer's acts inappropriate and commended the department for taking action immediately. 

The incident happened in June after an employee at the Courtyard Marriott in Athens called police to report an intoxicated student was trespassing. The video shows Fraser asking UGA student Michael Roquet to leave the property several times. When Fraser tried to arrest Roquet, the student walked away.

That's when the encounter turned violent.

Athens-Clarke County Police Chief Scott Freeman said officer Fraser struck the student with his baton at least two times in the head, then again while the student was on the ground. The Athens-Clarke County Police Department turned the case over to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Officer Fraser was fired and charged with felony aggravated assault.

The student’s attorney said the officer clearly crossed the line.

Chief Freeman said he was so open regarding this case because he wants to have full transparency with the public. According to Fraser's police report, Roquet was charged with simple battery on a police officer, public drunkenness and possessing a fake ID. His attorney said he will ask the district attorney to dismiss all charges.