The Office of Commonwealth Attorney for the City of Charlottesville said it was dropping the charges in the interest of justice and the community. A court order prosecutors filed said the evidence didn’t warrant prosecution.
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Virginia prosecutors Thursday said they were dropping all charges against university student Martese Johnson, whose bloody arrest sparked national outrage over the use of excessive force by the state liquor control agents.
Johnson, 20, was arrested in March outside a pub less than a quarter mile from the University of Virginia campus in Charlottesville, by agents with Virginia's Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC).
Video of the arrest, showing a blood dripping down Johnson's face as he's held to the ground, spread quickly online. The UVA student faced misdemeanor charges for public intoxication and obstruction of justice.
In a statement the Office of Commonwealth Attorney for the City of Charlottesville said "the interest of justice and the long term interest of the Charlottesville community are best served by using this case as an opportunity to engage ordinary citizens, law enforcement officers, and public officials in constructive dialogue concerning police and citizen relationships in a diverse community."
The court order also said the evidence does not warrant the prosecution of an individual involved in the events the night Johnson was arrested. A court hearing to formally drop the charges is scheduled for Friday.
from BuzzFeed - USNews http://ift.tt/1JNiHOH
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