Police Tase and Choke Assault Survivor Who Called 911 for Car Help

Incident Overview

• 🚨 A man named Jeremiah Roberson was tased and choked by Butts County police after calling 911 for assistance with car trouble.
• 💡 The incident occurred on July 3rd, 2023, when Roberson's car began having issues on Interstate 75 in Georgia.
• 🚗 Following dispatcher advice, Roberson drove to a 24-hour gas station, where officers encountered him.

Escalation and Excessive Force

• 🔍 The situation escalated when an officer noticed a beer can in Roberson's car, leading to a search and the arrival of backup deputies.
• 🗣️ When attempting to administer a breathalyzer, Roberson reflexively raised his hands, which officers deemed an "act of aggression" despite his explanations of prior trauma.
• 💥 Deputies then tackled Roberson, hit his head on the car and concrete, and proceeded to tase him for nearly two minutes, followed by a chokehold.
• 🚫 One deputy reportedly stood by and did not intervene, a detail highlighted as unusual and indicative of moral conflict.

Legal Action and Charges

• ⚖️ Roberson has filed a lawsuit against the three deputies involved, accusing them of excessive force and failure to intervene.
• 📄 Charges against Roberson, including obstructing an officer and open container violation, were later dismissed "in the interest of justice."
• 📉 Deputy Tippens resigned and was later charged with misdemeanor simple battery, pleading guilty and receiving 12 months probation.

Analysis of Police Conduct

• 💬 The discussion emphasizes that Roberson's actions were not genuine aggression and that officers had alternative, less forceful options, especially given he was not intoxicated.
• 💔 The incident is framed as a re-traumatization for Roberson, who had previously disclosed being a victim of sexual assault.
• 🗣️ There's a critique of the "blue wall" mentality and a call for systemic and cultural change within law enforcement, advocating for de-escalation training.
• 🤝 The narrative highlights the irony of someone seeking help from authorities only to be harmed by them, reinforcing an "us vs. them" mentality.