James A. Rich

🚔Why did Sgt. Billy Wheeler believe he needed to body slam this person from behind when another officer was calmly questioning him? On Feb. 8, 2020, in Valdosta, GA, near a Walgreens, Valdosta PD officers responded to a 911 call about a man panhandling/harassing customers. Two men matched the description. One had outstanding felony warrants and was detained. The other was Antonio Arnelo Smith (then 46), who said he was waiting for a Western Union transfer and had done nothing wrong. Officer Dominic Henry stopped Smith. Smith cooperated, handed over his ID, and answered questions. Sgt. Billy Wheeler then approached from behind, grabbed Smith’s right wrist, pinned both arms in a bear hug, ordered him to put his hands behind his back (while they were already pinned), and body-slammed him face-first to the ground. Smith screamed, “Oh my God, you broke my wrist!” Officers handcuffed him. One said he was under arrest for a warrant. Henry immediately corrected them: the warrant was for the other man nearby. Cuffs were removed within about a minute. Ambulance was called; Smith left before EMS arrived. Hospital later confirmed fractures to his wrist (distal radius and ulna). Smith sued the officers, police chief, mayor, and city for excessive force and civil rights violations (seeking ~$700k). In June 2021, Valdosta City Council approved a $350,000 settlement plus creation of a citizens review board. ❓What injury risk does a face-first body slam create when someone’s arms are already pinned behind them? ❓Why did Sgt. Billy Wheeler approach Antonio Smith from behind without saying anything first?