The Atlanta Police Department’s Office of Professional Standards (OPS) is investigating an alleged incident of unnecessary force involving an officer and a female citizen that occurred at the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport on Nov. 2.
That afternoon, Officer Terence Alexander directed Diana Dietrich-Barnes of Stockbridge to move her vehicle away from the curb.
According to the officer, her side view mirror struck him when she backed her Ford Explorer away from a vehicle to her immediate front. According to a news release, he physically removed her from the vehicle and arrested her for illegal parking, battery and obstruction.
Upon review of the incident on videotape at the Airport Precinct, the supervisor withdrew the charges and released Dietrich-Barnes. Alexander is currently out for medical reasons.
“The Department has initiated an administrative investigation to look into the incident,” Chief Pennington said in a statement. “My policy is clear, I do not tolerate any wrong doing on behalf of my officers, and I hold them accountable for their actions.”
