August 07, 2015
GBI Investigating DeKalb County Police Use of Force
Atlanta, GA – On Thursday, August 6, 2015, the DeKalb County Police Department requested the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to investigate an officer use of force incident and the subsequent death of Troy Lee Robinson, 33. The initial information provided to the GBI was that DeKalb County officers conducted a traffic stop for a tag violation in the area of 2150 Flat Shoals Road in Atlanta, DeKalb County, GA. Robinson was the passenger in the vehicle. After the driver was questioned by the officers about a gun found in the vehicle, Robinson fled on foot. Robinson climbed a chain link fence and Officer Casey Benton deployed his agency issued Taser. Robinson attempted to climb over a cement wall and fell to the ground below. Robinson was unconscious and transported by ambulance to Grady Hospital where he died.
An autopsy was conducted by the DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office on Friday, August 7, 2015. Information from the autopsy suggests that Robinson had one injury to his upper back which is apparently where one of the Taser probes penetrated his skin. Preliminary findings indicate Robinson died from severe head and neck trauma sustained during the fall.
The GBI will conduct an independent investigation to determine what occurred during the incident. When the investigation is complete it will be turned over to the district attorney for any action the district attorney deems appropriate.
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