Atlanta police released body camera footage of the arrest of Douglas County Probate Judge Christina Peterson, who allegedly punched an officer outside a nightclub on Thursday.
Atlanta Police Department officers were working a licensed side business at Red Martini Restaurant & Lounge when they heard a commotion around 3:18 a.m. and responded to investigate, police said.
Officers found a security guard escorting the woman out of the venue and attempted to de-escalate the situation, but the woman, later identified as 38-year-old Peterson, “ran toward the disturbance and immediately began yelling at security and officers,” police said.
The officer’s body camera shows Democrat Judge pushing the officer in the chest and yelling, “Let her go.”
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Peterson is accused of shoving an Atlanta Police Department officer who was working a licensed second job as a security guard at a nightclub. (Atlanta Police Department)
Police said Peterson “multiple times swatted away the woman’s hands while attempting to escort her outside” and allegedly pushed the officer in the chest twice before being taken into custody.
Peterson allegedly refused to cooperate when officers attempted to check her identity.
Peterson was taken into custody after allegedly punching an officer twice. (Atlanta Police Department)
Body camera footage shows Peterson yelling abuse at officers while she is being taken into custody – she can be heard saying “don’t touch me” and “shut up” – and she is also seen sitting in the back of a patrol car while handcuffed.
Police said Peterson was uncooperative with police and refused to identify himself. (Atlanta Police Department)
Once police learned her identity, the officer obtained an arrest warrant for charges of simple assault on a police officer and obstructing a law enforcement officer.
Peterson was then transported to the Fulton County Jail for processing and was taken into custody without incident.
Peterson was charged with simple assault on a police officer and obstructing law enforcement. (Atlanta Police Department)
Peterson is represented by attorney and Fulton County Commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr., who held a press conference with Peterson on Friday about the case.
Arrington said Peterson was helping defend a woman who was being attacked by an unknown man outside the lounge when the incident with officers occurred.
A woman named Alexandria Love spoke about the incident at a press conference and claimed Peterson had tried to help her.
“He violently attacked me,” Love said of the unidentified man, “punching me in the face. Judge Peterson was the only one who helped me.”
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Arrington I called the lounge. Police have demanded the release of security camera footage, arguing that witnesses and video footage show Peterson should not have been arrested.
Peterson has been in the spotlight since taking office in 2020.
A panel of the Judicial Qualifications Commission found Peterson guilty of “systematic incompetence” in April and recommended he be removed from his position. FOX 5 Atlanta reported.
In investigating Peterson’s allegations of misconduct, the commission found that she neglected her duties on multiple occasions, ignored court rules, insulted court officials and made inappropriate social media posts, according to the agency’s report.
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Peterson’s fate as a judge rests with the Georgia Supreme Court, which is scheduled to rule on the commission’s recommendations at a yet-to-be-determined date.
