GEORGIA: PERSONAL POMPOSITY SEEMS TO BE TRUMPING JUSTICE HERE:

This is a case where a black ran amok in public so the cops were probably justified in Tasering him. But the refusal to investigate the matter fully is unwise, to say the least

A year ago, a Lawrenceville deacon and father of four died after struggling with deputies and being shocked with a Taser at the Gwinnett County Detention Center.
Calling for criminal charges against the deputies involved in the scuffle, a crowd of about 100 people gathered Friday on the anniversary of Frederick Jerome Williams’ death to protest what they believe has been a miscarriage of justice. About 100 people marched around the parking lot of Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center demanding that District Attorney Danny Porter reconsider seeking criminal charges against deputies. A coalition of human rights organizations, including the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, organized the rally. Among those picketing the courthouse were Williams’ widow, Yanga, and their children, ages 10, 8, 5 and 2.

The crowd urged Porter to convene a special grand jury that would review evidence in the case to determine whether any criminal charges are warranted against Gwinnett County sheriff’s deputies. Last month, Porter presented the case to the grand jury. However, grand jurors declined to view a videotape of Williams’ struggle with deputies at the Gwinnett jail and decided not to investigate the case. “We are here to take this worldwide,” SCLC national president Charles Steele Jr. told protesters. “Mr. Porter, we will shut this place down. If you don’t reconvene a grand jury, we are asking that you resign.” The human rights groups also called for a moratorium on the use of Tasers until more research can be done to determine if they are safe.


Porter’s decision to seek a civil inquiry by the grand jury April 27 drew criticism from Melvin Johnson, an attorney for Williams’ widow. Johnson said Porter reneged on a promise in January to seek criminal charges against three deputies for involuntary manslaughter. “I guess reconsidering the case meant he would empanel the grand jury and ask them if the county should be investigated for its Taser usage, not whether the deputies unlawfully killed Mr. Williams,” Johnson said last week.

Porter said he never told the Williams family he would seek criminal charges. Instead, Porter said, he advised Johnson and Yanga Williams that he would prepare evidence for all applicable charges for grand jurors to decide. Porter changed his mind and closed the state’s case after Johnson asked the FBI to investigate in January, saying that Johnson went behind his back in asking for an additional probe.

“(Porter) has chosen to handle the case not based on evidence or law but based on his personal feelings,” Johnson told protesters Friday.
Porter admitted he was angry at Johnson, but he said Johnson put the state’s case in jeopardy when he publicly criticized the investigation, prompting him to defer to the FBI and close his file.

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