DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A DeKalb County Schools district police chief is on paid leave after shocking, exclusive video shows him body-slamming a student before arresting him.
A source within DeKalb County Schools confirmed to Channel 2 Action News on Tuesday.
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Channel 2 Action News was only given a portion of the video and the source told us that there is a lot more video that has not been shared.
Channel 2′s Justin Carter was live at Redan High School in Stone Mountain on WSB Tonight at 11 p.m. where he spoke exclusively with the student’s father.
The father, Richard Stephens, was speechless and said he had not even seen the video.
DeKalb County Schools Police Chief Bradley Gober was seen on surveillance, at Redan High School, coming up behind the 17-year-old student and forcing him to the ground.
According to DeKalb County School’s police source, he was assisted by a major.
Both of them struggled to put handcuffs on the student and when they finally did, they lifted him up and he was taken out of view.
Carter showed the video to Stephens.
“I didn’t know nothing about it... the school didn’t say nothing about that...I didn’t even know that he was arrested,” said Stephens.
He said he found out from friends that his won was taken to DeKalb County Jail where he spent the weekend behind bars on charges of obstruction and damaging school property.
“I spoke to him and he said he don’t know and why they did it. I just gotta look into it... I need to see the Chief. I need to see somebody,” said Stephens.
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What you don’t see on the video are the events leading up to the incident.
Our sources said Chief Gober first responded to a large fight near the front office, which was not shown on video. Our source then said the chief told the student not to intervene in the fight or he would be arrested.
The student was then placed in a room inside the front office.
You can see him leaving, then recognizing an adult woman who had also responded to the fight and was placed in handcuffs.
He exchanged words with the police, pulled away, and then was physically taken down by Gober.
Channel 2 Action News reached out to DeKalb County Schools and received the following statement:
The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) is aware of a recent video circulating in the media regarding an incident involving DCSD Police Chief Brad Gober.
In keeping with standard operating procedure, Chief Gober has been placed on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of an internal investigation. This standard procedure ensures a comprehensive and impartial assessment of the incident. No additional information will be provided while the investigation is ongoing.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we responsibly address this matter in the best interests of the community and our students.
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