Man engaged in physical altercation with APD officer appears in court

ATLANTA - An Atlanta man involved in a physical altercation with police caught on video that went viral, now wants the charges against him dropped.

“She brought me in the world to protect her and I am going to leave doing that, I am going to protect my mother. I was assaulted. She was assaulted. It was wrong, that was wrong,” suspect Harold Barnwell said with emotion during a court hearing Tuesday morning.

The video taken on Joseph Boone Boulevard on July 9 shows the ADP Sargent pushing Jennifer Barnwell to the ground and taking a boxing stance with Harold Barnwell, occasionally exchanging blows. The incident occurred after Mr. Barnwell was found taking items from an abandoned vehicle that had been involved in a chase. Barnwell took a bag, which police confirm held marijuana, and police ordered him to drop it. The video shows Barnwell walking away from the police, and the situation quickly escalated from there.

Mawuli Davis, the family attorney, has filed a motion to dismiss the criminal charges against Barnwell, arguing that Barnwell was defending himself against the unlawful and unwarranted use of excessive force.

“We believe that Mr. Barnwell had a legal right to defend himself, even though it was an officer. We know that this is a stretch for most citizens, if the law is applicable for anyone, it is applicable for everyone,” family attorney Mawuli Davis said firmly.

The defense motion to drop the charges will be heard before the court on August 8 at the Fulton County Courthouse.

APD has placed the sergeant involved on administrative leave and launched an internal affairs investigation. 

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