AJC Sept. 23, 1969 pg 2A

Policeman Resigns Here;

Grand Jury Probes ÔBrutalityÕ

 

By LARRY WOODS

 

One of two Atlanta policemen accused of being involved in the alleged beating of two Negroes at police headquarters on Sept. 6 has resigned from the department.

 

Officer Joseph L. Roberts' resignation came to light Tuesday morning in Municipal City Court here when Roberts and officer R. C. Auld appeared to bring charges of aggravated battery against Guy Phillips, one of the two men who claim to have been beaten,

 

Phillips, 29, and Billy 'R. Lewis, 19, have previously charged they were beaten by police on Sept. 6 following their arrest on Auburn Avenue.

 

MUNICIPAL Judge T. C. Little postponed hearing testimony in the case until Oct. 1.

 

The officers originally charged Phillips with assault and battery, but they amended their charge to aggravated battery.

 

Roberts, 21, joined the police department last April 22. According to superiors within the department Roberts did not offer any explanation for his resignation. He officially left the department Sept. 12, the same day Police Chief Herbert Jenkins transferred Lt. Lamar Williams to the southside unincorporated area of Atlanta. Williams was in charge of the duty detention station the evening the two men say they were beaten.

 

it has also been learned that  Phillips and Lewis were to go before the Fulton County Grand Jury. The grand jury is presently investigating charges of police brutality brought by numerous people in Atlanta.

 

The 23-member grand jury panel is also expected to hear testimony from Atlanta policemen H. H. Harper, E. W. Grier and Supt. J. L. Brown.

 

OFFICER Dewitt Smith, who made the charges of police brutality two weeks ago at a press conference in which he said he witnessed Phillips and Lewis being beaten by five white officers, is slated to go before the jury Friday. (Lt. Williams and officer Roberts were among those accused by Officer Smith of taking part in the beating.)

 

Fulton County District. Atty. Lewis Slayton has indicated he expects to subpoena some 25 police officers to testify before the grand jury, as well as an undisclosed number of individuals who claim they have been beaten by Atlanta police in recent months.