Johnny Hollman death: Family meets with Fulton County DA Willis
ATLANTA - The family of church deacon Johnny Hollman, who died during a traffic stop in Atlanta, met with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis on Tuesday.
The family is demanding arrests and criminal charges in Hollman's death, not only against the former officer who used a Taser on him, but also a tow truck driver who helped to restrain him.
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Atlanta deacon dies during Atlanta traffic stop
On Aug. 10, 2023, Hollman got into an accident near Cunningham and Joseph E. Lowery boulevards. An Atlanta police officer determined Hollman was at fault and wrote a citation. The officer claims Hollman became frustrated, agitated, and uncooperative.
A body-worn camera on the officer captured the encounter. It was released three months after the incident.
"You're not going to scream at me. You understand what I'm telling you? Now you're either going to sign the ticket or you're going to go to jail," Officer Kiran Kimbrough tells Hollman in the video.
The 62-year-old was stunned multiple times using a Taser after refusing to sign that traffic ticket, leading to an abnormal heart rhythm and his death.
Kimbrough would later be fired from the Atlanta Police Department.
WARNING: The police body camera video could be disturbing to some viewers.
Tow truck driver intervenes in deacon's traffic stop
The deacon's family also takes issue with S&W Tow truck driver Eric Robinson. They claim Robinson inserted himself into the encounter by sitting on the deacon's head and neck.
The family says DA Willis told them her Public Integrity Unit needs more time to investigate his involvement.
"I'm optimistic and I'm hopeful. I have prayed about it. I have talked to God about it. I know charges are gonna be brought. I know we are gonna see justice," Arnitra Hollman exclaimed.
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Hollman family critical of lawmakers
The family is critical of state lawmakers who they claims have made the prosecution of police officers more difficult.
"You got to do better with making these laws. You gotta do better with helping families like us get the prosecution we need to see. You can't tie the prosecutors' hands and expect them to do the job to help these families. We are heartbroken," Arnitra Hollman said with passion.
Hollman's death was ruled a homicide, and while Atlanta City Council approved a $3.8 million settlement, no charges have been filed.
Following Hollman's death, the Atlanta Police Department revised its ticketing procedures to avoid arresting individuals who refuse to sign traffic citations.
Officers will now write "refusal to sign" on the signature line and issue a copy of the charges instead of physically arresting the driver.
The Fulton County District Attorney's Office has not offered a timeline on when a decision on charges would be made. The DA declined comment when questioned by FOX 5.