An Atlanta police officer last month allegedly let a murder suspect escape while fugitive units attempted to apprehend the wanted man, according to an incident report released Tuesday.
Officer Tommy Williams, 24, was arrested May 21 and charged with violation of oath of public office, obstruction of an officer and hindering apprehension of a criminal. He was suspended without pay and relieved of duty, a department spokesman said Tuesday.
The officer’s arrest and subsequent suspension stems from a May 14 incident in which he allegedly allowed the murder suspect to escape out a window of a house on James P. Brawley Drive. According to the police incident report, Williams was to cover the side of the house while other officers tried to arrest Jabri Mathis. Mathis was wanted in connection with the April 3 slaying of 50-year-old Gary Allen Mincy, who was found shot to death inside his vehicle in the 1100 block of Joseph E. Boone Boulevard.
When other officers made entry to the James P. Brawley Drive home, Mathis was not there. He was taken into custody a short time later on nearby Griffin Street.
“After the suspect was apprehended and relocated to the patrol car,” the incident report states, “the officers were discussing how it was possible for the suspect to escape out the window when it was covered and the suspect, Jabri Mathis, told the officers: ‘He let me go. I ran right past him.’ He even told the officers that he knew the officer and that his name was Officer Tommy Williams and he was like an uncle to him.”
The report also notes that Williams was given a lookout on Mathis during roll call at least a month before Mathis was arrested and was aware that he was wanted, but never mentioned knowing the suspect.
Mathis remains in the Fulton County Jail, charged with felony murder, assault with a deadly weapon and criminal attempt to commit robbery among other charges.
Atlanta police Sgt. Greg Lyon said Tuesday that Williams, who joined the department in October 2012, “is relieved of duty and is scheduled for an emergency hearing with Chief [George] Turner.”
“The Atlanta Police Department takes these allegations very seriously,” Lyon said in an email. ”Chief Turner has always prioritized officer accountability and honesty, and will continue to take decisive action when necessary to hold his officers to the highest standard.”
Williams was released from jail on a signature bond on May 22, and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Friday in Fulton County Superior Court.
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