Martese Johnson, the University of Virginia (UVA) student who's bloody arrest two months ago caught national attention, asked for the charges against him to be dropped.
According to the Associated Press, Johnson's attorney filed the motion Wednesday in Charlottesville General District Court. Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) officers arrested Johnson March 18 for public intoxication and obstructing justice without force, but somehow he wound on the ground with a bloody face.
Johnson, 20, was reportedly denied access to a bar for trying to gain entry with a fake ID, which he has maintained is widespread at UVA. Onlookers started recording his arrest after he fell to the ground and bloodied his face.
An ongoing investigation is still seeking determine what escalated the incident. Daniel P. Watkins, Johnson's attorney, told the AP his client's face was simply smashed onto the pavement without cause.
"This shouldn't even be a case," he told the Washington Post. "I read the police report of the arresting officers and I think that they made a mistake here and they acted beyond their lawful authority."
In the filing, Watkins said his client was detained unlawfully. An ABC officer grabbed Johnson by the arm after the student was denied entry to the bar. When Johnson pulled his arm away, another officer helped the first complete the arrest. After falling to the ground, the ABC officers "shackled" Johnson's ankles before taking him away.
"The two agents slammed Mr. Johnson headfirst into the sidewalk, causing his head to bleed considerably," Watkins wrote in the court filings. "Prior to the seizure there is no allegation that ABC agents believed he had consumed alcohol for any reason, including his speech, outward appearance, manner, walk, or odor."
Watkins said he wanted to see the case come to a conclusion by the end of the summer.
"It's been more than two months and it's just time," he told the Post. "I want to vindicate Mr. Johnson of these charges prior to that."
