On Monday, July 22, 2024, FOX 5 Atlanta reported that former Douglas County Judge Christina Peterson had filed a motion to dismiss charges stemming from her arrest at an Atlanta nightclub in June.
Peterson was arrested by Atlanta police and charged with simple battery and felony obstruction after allegedly punching an officer during an altercation at a Buckhead nightclub. In the motion filed with the court, Peterson’s legal team argued that she should be immune from prosecution, asserting that she was acting in self-defense during the incident.
The motion disputes the police report’s account of events. According to Peterson’s lawyers, the officer claimed to be conducting an investigation but inaccurately stated that a female was being escorted from the venue when everyone had already left the building. Additionally, they allege that the officers present did not interview the victim Peterson was attempting to help or any eyewitnesses to gather statements about what transpired.
Body camera footage also did not apparently show Peterson striking the officer, as was initially reported. The motion notes that the police report was later edited to change the description of her actions from “striking” to “forcibly pushing.” It is further argued that Peterson was unaware she was interacting with law enforcement, as two bystanders can be heard shouting warnings on the footage that the person was a police officer.
Peterson did not appear in court for a scheduled hearing earlier this month regarding the charges. The motion seeks dismissal, but it remains unclear when a ruling may be issued or when Peterson will next appear in court to address the battery and obstruction charges related to the June nightclub altercation with Atlanta police.
Source: FOX 5 Atlanta
