Clayton Co. Officers Fired Over Excessive Force Allegations

Three Clayton County police officers have been fired and two others disciplined after allegations of excessive force and violating police policy.

Taymar Williams, 30, said officers violated and humiliated him during public strip searches last October. One strip search occurred near Williams’ home in Riverdale, the other took place at the North Clayton Precinct after he was taken into custody on suspicion of possession of marijuana.

”I felt as if I didn’t have any rights, said Williams.

In an incident report, Officer Michael Brayton said Williams --in plastic zip tie cuffs in the backseat of his patrol car – removed marijuana from his underwear, stuffed it in his mouth and tried to swallow it. Brayton said he attempted to remove some chewed up marijuana from Williams’ mouth with the small end of a flex cuff zip tie, but that Williams refused to comply.

Officers Brayton, Benjamin Heandez and Richard Meehan were fired on Jan. 10, according to Clayton County Police Department Chief Gregory Porter. Two other officers, Kenneth Cameron and David Ricks, were disciplined.

”I was very disappointed. This type of complaint, I have no tolerance for, said Porter. ”I want to make it very clear to the police department, as well as the residents of Clayton County that we are very fair and professional police department. I expect every employee within the Clayton County Police Department to act within the core values which I’ve set forth.

Porter said the policies for strip searches are very clear. He said he is tuing the investigation over to the district attoey’s office.

Williams said he was sad to hear that the officers lost their jobs, but he felt that justice was served.