AJC 9-29-69 pg.

Brutality Probers Hear 3 Policemen

The Fulton County Grand Jury continued its probe Friday into brutality charges against some Atlanta policemen and heard testimony from three policemen who earlier claimed to have witnessed an incident at the police station.

 

District Attorney Lewis R. Slaton said the grand juryÕs investigation also will include looking into claims of police brutality during a melee at Piedmont Park last Sunday which resulted in a clash between hippies and policemen.

 

The jury will see films of the park incident taken by three of Atlanta's television stations at their session next Friday, Slaton said.

 

In addition, the district attorney said his office has taken more than 200 statements from persons who were at the park, but that the jury has not started hearing witnesses.

 

Slaton could not say when the investigation would be completed.

 

Hippie Area Police Asked

T h e Community Relations Commission voted Friday to ask the Atlanta Police Department to station two or three policemen in the Peachtree-i4th Street hippie area on a permanent basis.

The aim would be for the policemen to seek better relations between the police department and the hippies.

 

The resolution was passed following a discussion of last Sunday's police-hippie riot.

 

[Thus was opened The Pig Pen on Peachtree near 10th. Designated so by a psychedelic lettered sign painted on the window.]