An Albany police officer is now on administrative leave after an incident went viral on social media.
The incident started after police responded to a hit and run accident on July 24, which led to a video that quickly went viral the same day.
Police identified the officer seen in the video, hitting a car in the Albany Mall parking lot as Officer Matthew Brown. According to APD, Brown is on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an Internal Affairs Office investigation.
Albany police said in a news release that officers responded to a hit and run at the intersection of Nottingham Way and the Liberty Expressway. APD said the three suspects left the scene, abandoned their vehicle and ran from the initial responding patrol officers.
The release said assisting officers observed Anthony Docks, 30, running in the parking lot of the Albany Mall. The officers attempted to stop Docks, but he continued to run. It went on to say "one of the assisting officers drove into the area and Docks ran into the path of his vehicle, the officer jammed his brakes to avoid hitting Docks but his car slid into the passenger’s side, rear quarter panel area" of a black 2014 Nissan Altima.
A short video circulating on social media shows the patrol car hit the Altima.
Docks was chased down on foot and taken into custody.
APD said the patrol car that hit the Altima received moderate damage to the front bumper area. The Altima received extensive damage to the passenger’s side rear quarter panel area.
As a result of the leaving the scene of an accident, officers charged three suspects.
Anthony Docks, 30, of Atlanta, is charged with hit and run, obstruction of officers, possession of drug related objects, driving while unlicensed, and failure to obey traffic control devices.
Stevenson Etienne, 27 of Stone Mountain, is charged with identity fraud and obstruction of officers.
Windy Cavalier, 20, of Norcross, is charged with possession of marijuana.
APD said internal affairs was notified Tuesday night immediately, and an investigation began. Below is a statement from the Albany Police Department about the incident:
The Albany Police Department is aware of the officer involved motor vehicle accident that occurred in the Albany Mall parking lot on July 24, 2018 and the video that has surfaced on social media.
Shortly after being notified about the incident, the Command staff contacted the Internal Affairs Office, and an investigation promptly began. While the fact-finding is conducted, Officer Matthew Brown is being placed is on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome.
The mission of the Albany Police Department is to develop our personnel to provide quality law enforcement services in an efficient manner that keeps the public trust while maintaining order in our community. Furthermore, the Albany Police Department is committed to a firm approach to crime. In this case, those efforts resulted in an accident. Fortunately, no one was injured, and three individuals, who are not from our city, are in custody with additional charges pending against them.
Copyright 2018 WALB. All rights reserved.
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