VIDEO: GA Lieutenant in Trouble for Telling DUI Suspect “We Only Kill Black People”
Dash-cam video obtained by Atlanta-area TV station WSB has a Cobb County (GA) Police lieutenant in serious trouble.
During a traffic stop the lieutenant dealt with a woman who was afraid to move her hands by telling her: “Remember, we only kill black people. We only kill black people, right?” The incident happened last year.
Chief Mike Register said the officer heard on video is Lt. Greg Abbott. Register said Abbott has been assigned to administrative duties pending the outcome of the investigation.
According to Register, the recording is part of a DUI stop. The woman said she was hesitant to put her hands down to pick up a cellphone because she didn’t want to get shot.
“No matter what context it was said, it shouldn’t have been said,” Register said.
Abbott’s attorney Lance LoRusso gave WSB the following statement:
"Lt. Greg Abbott is a highly respected 28-year veteran of the Cobb County Police Department. He is cooperating with the department's internal investigation and will continue to do so. His comments must be observed in their totality to understand their context. He was attempting to de-escalate a situation involving an uncooperative passenger. In context, his comments were clearly aimed at attempting to gain compliance by using the passenger's own statements and reasoning to avoid making an arrest.”
