Emma is currently seeking financial help after she was violently assaulted, robbed, and wrongfully detained by a Georgia State Patrol (GSP) Officer. She was charged with felony obstruction of an Officer and misdemeanor battery of an Officer for simply filming a traffic stop, which is legal in the state of Georgia, and is facing upwards of $34,000 in legal fees as a result. This GoFundMe is dedicated to prevent Emma from drowning in legal fees in the aftermath.

 

On APRIL (22) On the way home to visit her mother, Emma passed a traffic stop on the highway and noticed that a GSP Officer had pulled over a Person of Color. Considering recent events, Emma decided to get to the next legal turn around and pull over across the highway from the traffic stop to watch/film for safety measures. Emma used her phone to film the traffic stop while waiting to see that the person was safe. After waiting several minutes to see if the situation was going to de-escalate, Emma watched the Officer have the woman exit her vehicle on the side of the road and he began waving his arms around and seemed to be shouting while the woman stood still. After waiting an additional few minutes to see if the situation would resolve, the Officer continued to escalate so Emma pulled her car around a legal turn around and pulled over at the next official road past the traffic stop about 20 yards away.

Before getting out of the car, Emma searched if stopping and filming a traffic stop was legal in the state of Georgia (it is). Emma took off her flannel and scarf to reduce any perceived threat, left her car running, and stepped out with just her phone in hand. Emma was far enough away that she had to yell to ask the woman if she was ok and when she started to answer, the Officer saw Emma and started cussing and yelling at her to put her phone down. Emma said that she was just checking on the woman and that she wouldn’t come any closer. The Officer again shouted to Emma saying that she wasn’t allowed to be on the side of the road. Emma stayed still by her car with her hands in the air only holding her phone. The Officer fumbled for his taser gun and ran at Emma pointing his taser in her face. Emma backed up with her hands in the air and the Officer went to snatch Emma's phone out of her hand. He then cuffed her and grabbed her by the neck and threw her on the ground. When Emma asked what she was doing wrong, he didn’t respond.

 

The Officer called for backup. Emma asked if the Officer could please get her phone off the ground. He did so and put the phone on the hood of his car. Emma kept asking what she was being arrested for and he did not answer. Due to a recent emergency medical procedure, Emma was experiencing intense abdominal pain and asked if she could be on her knees instead of her butt due to the pain. The Officer did not respond and when Emma shifted to her knees to alleviate the pain, the Officer grabbed her by the cuffs and threw her down on the ground again. After waiting on the ground for approx. 10 minutes, a County Officer arrived and transported Emma to jail where was placed in holding for seven hours. Due to continuing abdominal pain from the Officer’s mistreatment and disregard for her medical health, Emma asked to speak to a nurse about her pain and was refused care. Emma asked the Officers to call her mother on her behalf to explain why she wasn’t home and they refused.

 

While in holding, two male Officers additionally stood outside the cell and made inappropriate sexual comments, loudly laughing about if they would rather fuck Emma or the other woman who was also in holding. After seven hours of being denied requests for her care, not being allowed to contact anyone, and being sexually harassed by Officers, Emma was finally booked and still wasn’t made aware of what her charges were. The next morning at first appearance the judge let Emma know that she was being charged with felony obstruction of an Officer and misdemeanor battery of an Officer. Her bail with taxes was set at $25,000.

Emma’s mother obtained a bondsman to release Emma.

 

After release with bail, Emma’s iPhone 12 that was used to film the incident was missing. The jail claimed they did not have it and when Emma called the GSP post the Officer who answered said he would leave a note for the arresting Officer and stated “if the arresting Officer feels like it, he might look into it on his next shift”. After continuing the issue, the Post Commander stated that he spoke with the arresting Officer multiple times resulting in the Officer stating that he “has no idea what she’s talking about”. Emma still owes $870 on this device and it holds all the evidence needed to dismiss the case. With the phone’s “disappearance” the arresting Officer has theoretically committed grand larceny.

 

Emma spent the entire following day on the phone with Apple and Verizon customer service (April 24th). Both parties showed that Emma’s phone was “wiped” around the time of the arrest. Even after giving Apple remote access to Emma’s laptop, they could not see that Emma’s phone had ever been used. Nothing had backed up to the Cloud and the phone was seemingly factory reset. Therefore, the video that had this entire event recorded from start to finish is gone. Emma has asked if the GSP had a body-cam or a dash-cam and has been told “probably not”.

 

If convicted, Emma faces a mandatory minimum of 1-5 years in prison. She has a previously unblemished record. Emma has a goal of getting the charges entirely dismissed due to her own innocence and the criminal actions of the Officer.

 

Knowing the violent actions of the Officer against Emma, we are also concerned and would like to know if the other woman who was initially pulled over is safe. If anyone is aware of who she is and if she is okay after the incident, we would love to have that peace of mind.

 

Emma has hired a highly recommended lawyer in Gainesville, GA.

The fees are as follows:

$7500 total (as long as it doesn’t go to trial)

$2500 down

$500 a month

 

Emma’s bond fees are as follows

$4000 non refundable

$300 dollars a month until the case is settled or until all $25,000 is paid.

 

This all adds up to a cost of approx $34,000 NOT including living expenses. Monthly, Emma is facing approx. $2000 for all legal fees and living expenses.

 

Her rent is $650 a month. Emma’s current income is less than $1000 monthly.

 

For any questions about Emma’s situation and how you can help outside of financial donation, please contact me by email. Emma is prepared to share receipts and verification that all money donated is going directly to legal fees. If her financial goal is reached, any remaining money will be donated to the Atlanta Solidarity Fund.

 

In broad daylight with her hands up and standing still, Emma was assaulted and robbed by a police officer on the side of the road. Her story demonstrates that nobody is safe from police brutality. Emma is a Georgia native, Boone transplant. Emma is currently a full-time independent Appstate student in school for Medical Ethics, is a mental health advocate, and is a caretaker for a Hospice patient. She is a valuable community member and deserves justice for her case.