A sheriff’s deputy in Atlanta, Georgia was fired on Sunday after a social media video went viral showing the deputy repeatedly striking a man.
Clayton County Sheriff’s Office said that a criminal investigation will be turned over to the Clayton County District Attorney’s Office.
“After being made aware of a video posted on social media involving a Deputy using physical force on a man, Sheriff Victor Hill ordered his entire Internal Affairs Unit to come in and begin an investigation that has been on going since 8 pm (Friday),” the sheriff’s office said in a statement on Saturday.
The video shows two deputies holding a man on the ground and repeatedly striking him in the face, while one deputy can be heard shouting, “he bit my hand!”
Another video capturing a different angle of the incident shows children in a nearby car crying while one can be heard shouting, “Daddy!”
The man on the ground was identified as Roderick Walker, which was previously charged with two counts of battery and two counts of obstructing or hindering law enforcement officers.
Torris Butterfield, an attorney representing Walker, is actively trying to get bond set to get Walker released.
The sheriff requested a signature bond for Walker two day ago, but the Magistrate’s Office denied because he has a felony probation warrant out of Fulton County for cruelty to children, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and a failure to appear warrant.
The incident occurred after Walker, his girlfriend and one of his children had returned a rental car.
The car was pulled over, and demanded Walker to show his ID, which he said he did not have with him.
When Walker asked why they needed the ID, the deputies became upset and told him to exit the car and lead to the officer’s use of force.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said they have not received a request for them to investigate the incident, and did not name the deputy in the video.