The Atlanta police have released bodycam footage of the arrest of Douglas County Probate Judge Christina Peterson after she allegedly struck an officer outside a nightclub. The incident occurred when the officer responded to a disturbance at the Red Martini Restaurant and Lounge. Peterson was seen pushing the officer and screaming at him to release a woman being escorted out of the venue. She also allegedly cursed at the officer while in custody, resulting in arrest warrants for simple battery against a police officer and obstruction of a law enforcement officer. Peterson was taken to Fulton County Jail for processing and was represented by lawyer and Fulton County Commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr.
During a press conference, Peterson’s lawyer said that Peterson was helping a woman who was being attacked outside the lounge when the incident with the officer occurred. The woman, identified as Alexandria Love, also described the incident and claimed that Peterson was the only one who helped her when she was attacked. Arrington called on the lounge to release surveillance footage, stating that based on eyewitness accounts and video evidence, Peterson should not have been arrested. Peterson has faced previous scrutiny after being found guilty of “systemic incompetence” by a Judicial Qualifications Commission panel in April 2020, which recommended her removal from office due to allegations of failing to perform her duties, ignoring courthouse rules, mistreating courthouse personnel, and inappropriate social media posts.
The fate of Peterson as a judge now rests with the Georgia Supreme Court, which will review the panel’s recommendation at a later date. Peterson’s lawyer and supporters claim that she was unfairly arrested and was simply trying to defend a woman in distress during the incident at the nightclub. The bodycam footage released by the Atlanta police shows Peterson’s interactions with the officer and her subsequent arrest, including her refusal to cooperate with the officer’s attempts to identify her and her cursing while in custody. Peterson’s lawyer has maintained her innocence and called for a more thorough investigation into the incident, as well as for the lounge to release any surveillance footage that could corroborate her version of events.
The incident involving Judge Peterson outside the nightclub has sparked controversy and debate about her actions and the response by law enforcement. Supporters of Peterson claim that she was wrongly arrested while trying to help a woman in need, while critics point to her past disciplinary issues and the bodycam footage as evidence of inappropriate behavior. The Georgia Supreme Court will ultimately decide Peterson’s future as a judge based on the panel’s recommendation of her removal from office. The case has garnered attention due to Peterson’s position as a judge and the circumstances surrounding her arrest, including conflicting witness accounts and the release of bodycam footage showing the altercation with the officer.
