A Georgia deputy was fired on Sunday after video showed him repeatedly punching a black man during a traffic stop as his girlfriend and his child screamed in terror.
The Clayton County Sheriff's Office revealed in a statement that the unidentified deputy who beat Roderick Walker was fired for 'excessive use of force.'
'The Deputy who repeatedly struck Roderick Walker is being terminated from the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office by order of Sheriff Victor Hill for excessive use of force,' the statement read.
'The criminal investigation of this matter will be turned over to the Clayton County District Attorney’s Office.'
Videos shared to social media last week showed two Clayton County deputies (pictured) arresting Roderick Walker, 26, in Georgia (pictured)
Outrage sparked on social media last week when video showed Walker, 26, being aggressively arrested and beaten by two Clayton County deputies.
Attorney Shean Williams said the incident began when deputies demanded to see Walker's ID after he, his girlfriend, their five-month-old baby and her son returned a rental vehicle.
In one video, cell phone footage shows the two deputies pinning Roderick to the pavement as one of his children and his girlfriend stand nearby.
'He's bleeding,' the woman shouts. Walker's young son can be heard screaming and crying in the background. 'Stop punching him in the face!'
One video shared to social media showed the fired deputy punching Walker in the head at least nine times
The deputy claims that Walker bit him in the hand, but this cannot be confirmed through footage.
The two deputies exert their body weight atop of Walker, who lying on the ground and saying, 'I'm going to die. I can't breathe!'
At this, Walker's girlfriend screams and pleads with deputies 'not to kill him.'
Seconds later, one deputy punches Walker in the head three times as his son calls for him in the background.
Deputies then turn Walker onto his back, revealing blood on the face, and handcuff him.
Walker (pictured) had a bloody face after he was roughly arrested and struck in the face several times
Walker was ultimately charged with two counts of battery and two counts of obstructing or hindering law enforcement officers
As the girlfriend asks if Walker is okay, a third deputy tells her 'to get in the car before you end up in handcuffs.'
A second version of the footage taken by a witness shows the deputy punching Walker at least nine times.
Walker was ultimately charged with two counts of battery and two counts of obstructing or hindering law enforcement officers. There is not bond listed yet.
Torris Butterfield, an attorney hired to represent Walker, told CNN that he met with his client for two hours on Saturday and that he is working to secure a bond for release.
In the statement, the Clayton County Sheriff's Office said the sheriff ordered a signature bond for Walker 48 hours ago but he has a felony probation warrant.
'Unfortunately, Mr. Walker has a felony probation warrant out of Fulton County for Cruelty to Children, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and a Failure to Appear warrant out of Hapeville which resulted in Magistrate Court denying him a bond,' it read.
'Mr. Walker’s legal counsel will have to resolve these issues to secure his release.'
A statement from the Clayton County Sheriff's Office said that Walker (pictured) had received medical treatment and undergone x-rays for his injuries
The statement added that Walker received medical treatment, including x-rays that found no fractures, and he is being monitored at the jail hospital by a doctor.
Attorney Shean Williams condemned the deputy's actions on Sunday in a statement.
'My reaction to the video is that it just shows unfortunately another incident where an African American male’s civil rights have been violated by people and officers and law enforcement who have the duty first to protect and serve,' said Williams.
Williams said the family had approached an idle rideshare vehicle after dropping off their rental car.
They negotiated a price with the driver, who was off-duty at the time, to give them a ride down the street.
But on the way, the vehicle was pulled over for what Williams said was a tail-light violation.
Deputies demanded that Walker, who was a passenger, provide his ID but he did not have it with him.
According to Williams, Walker asked why deputies needed to see his ID since he was not driving the vehicle and this upset them.
Walker told deputies that he had not done anything wrong, but deputies asked that he exit the vehicle. That's when the excessive force began, Williams said.
Williams said Walker lost consciousness at least twice during the beating.
Clayton County Sheriff's Office: 'The Deputy who repeatedly struck Roderick Walker is being terminated from the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office by order of Sheriff Victor Hill for excessive use of force'
Several social media posts claimed that the incident specifically involved a Lyft passenger, but the company said on Twitter said that was incorrect.
'We've been made aware of a disturbing incident in Georgia,' the company wrote. 'While we confirmed this did not happen during a Lyft ride, we unequivocally stand against racism and unnecessary use of force.'
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation told CNN that they have not yet gotten a request to launch an investigation into the matter.
The Georgia NAACP told the publication via email that they were 'calling for the resignation of Sheriff Victor Hill, the termination of the two officers involved, and all charges to be dropped by the Clayton County District Attorney, Tasha Mosley.'
Gerald Griggs, an attorney for the NAACP Georgia, said during a press conference: 'It's time for the law to work for brown and Black citizens the way it works for White citizens,'
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