Update #1, 04/13/2017:

(Lawrenceville, Georgia) The Gwinnett County Police Department has terminated the employment of Master Police Officer Robert McDonald. He was identified as the officer who kicked a handcuffed man in the head yesterday. He was hired August of 2013 and graduated from the police academy in March of 2014. We have also launched a criminal investigation that will ultimately be sent to the District Attorney’s Office. What happened yesterday was clearly outside of state law and department policy. We do not tolerate actions that are not consistent with our core values or state law.

The investigation into this incident was initiated by the shift commander. The video was very crucial to the investigation and it confirmed that the force used was unnecessary and excessive.

Robert McDonald stepped outside of the guiding principles of our agency, and as a result of his actions he was terminated less than 24 hours after the incident occurred. The actions by this former officer do not represent the officers of this department who dedicate their lives to serving the community on a daily basis.

Original, 04/13/2017:

(Lawrenceville, Georgia) On April 12, 2017, around 4 p.m., a Gwinnett County police officer was involved in a use of force where a handcuffed man was kicked in the head. An ambulance responded to the scene and treated the man. The officer was responding as a backup officer to assist a supervisor with a traffic stop at the intersection of Sugarloaf Parkway at Lawrenceville Suwanee Road. The video was captured on a cell phone by a witness in traffic. 

After the arrest, the shift commander initiated an immediate investigation into the incident. The officer was placed on administrative leave, his department issued firearm was taken, and he was sent home. He will not be operating in a law enforcement capacity while this case is being investigated. The cell phone video is very disturbing and it speaks for itself. We will conduct a thorough investigation. We expect an update to this story before the close of business today. 

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