The ex-Gwinnett police officers charged in connection with a 2017 traffic stop beating have waived their arraignments, court officials confirmed Wednesday.
Former Sgt. Michael Bongiovanni and former Master Officer Robert McDonald had been scheduled to be arraigned Friday morning, almost exactly a year after the controversial traffic stop near Lawrenceville.
During an arraignment, defendants are given the opportunity to enter a plea. If a formal hearing is waived, a not guilty plea is generally entered on a defendant’s behalf.
Bongiovanni and McDonald were both fired and arrested after being caught on video striking 21-year-old Demetrius Hollins during an April 12, 2017 traffic stop at Sugarloaf Parkway and Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road near Lawrenceville.
One bystander cellphone video of the incident showed Bongiovanni using his forearm or elbow to strike Hollins in the head while he stood outside his vehicle with both hands up. A separate cellphone video showed McDonald arriving at the scene and, with Hollins already lying on the ground and handcuffed, kicking Hollins in the head.
Both officers were fired shortly after the videos surfaced on social media on the day after the traffic stop.
They were indicted in February on a bevy of felony charges.
In all, McDonald now faces three charges: violation of oath of office, battery and aggravated assault. The latter stems from McDonald reportedly pointing his firearm at Hollins’ head.
Bongiovanni, meanwhile, has been indicted on a total of eight charges: aggravated assault, three counts of violation of oath of office, two counts of false writings and two counts of battery. In addition to allegedly striking and Tasering Hollins unnecessarily, Bongiovanni is accused of lying in his official accounts of the incident.
McDonald’s attorney has filed a motion to have his case separated from Bongiovanni’s.
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