Protestors disrupt Smyrna City Council meeting

SMYRNA, Ga. - Dozens of protestors disrupted Monday night's Smyrna City Council meeting. The meeting ended abruptly, following outbursts from demonstrators protesting the promotion of Smyrna Police Sergeant Kenneth Owens to Lieutenant.

The group opposes the promotion even though a grand jury cleared him of wrongdoing in the shooting death of 23-year-old Nicholas Thomas last March. Thomas' parents joined supporters who demonstrated outside city hall before the meeting.

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"Why now, if he wasn't promotable the first 20 years? Why is he being promoted now after killing an unarmed citizen in the street?" asked Thomas' father Huey Thomas.

City leaders wouldn't comment on camera Tuesday, but in a statement Smyrna Mayor Max Bacon wrote, " Internal staff-level promotions, including those within public safety, are not at the discretion of Mayor and Council and do not appear on Council agenda."

Police officers moved in as things grew heated, some keeping the disgruntled crowd at bay as council members left the room.

While the officer has been cleared, Thomas' office would like a second grand jury to review the case.