Cop Resigns After Video Showed Him Cursing At 65-Year-Old Woman

ALPHARETTA, GA — The Alpharetta officer who was captured on video swearing at and manhandling a 65-year-old woman during a traffic stop last week has resigned from his position. The city has released a letter submitted by James Legg announcing his decision "regrettably" to quit his post with the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety.

The decision comes a day after the department revealed details, including video footage from an officer's patrol car, about the May 4 traffic stop. Dash cam footage from that incident showed Legg yelling, grabbing and shoving Rose Campbell, who initially refused to sign a traffic citation for failure to maintain lane.

According to the letter released by the city, Legg writes to Chief John Robison that he believed he acted appropriately, but conceded he should not have cursed at Campbell. He also goes on to say he does not believe he would receive a fair shake in the internal affairs investigation due to the chief's comments made on social media.

"Rather than let an independent agency or officer review my performance, you have all but issued a statement finding my actions unworthy, unreasonable, and in violation of policy," Legg states. "I will justify my actions when given the opportunity to do so through a POST investigation, but will not subject myself to the investigation of an agency chief who would rather care about public perception and political correctness over officer, suspect and the general public’s safety."

Legg went on to say that he did not initiate the traffic stop and did not "begin the use of force." He concludes his letter by stating the encounter had been going on with multiple officers responding, thus leaving the general public "unprotected."

"In conclusion, I feel my decisions ended a volatile situation quickly with very limited force and got everyone off the highway and back into service," he said.

Legg's resignation does not mean the matter is considered closed on the city's part. Alpharetta says Legg's resignation "does not alleviate our responsibility to Mrs. Campbell and the community for a complete and thorough investigation." The internal affairs investigation will move forward and the appropriate actions, based on the facts unearthed during the probe, will be taken by the city, it added.

Alpharetta also said it's reached out to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to conduct its own independent review of the incident.

"While our own investigation will be thorough, we understand that having the matter also investigated by an outside agency will provide the public additional confidence that the incident has been thoroughly and appropriately addressed," the city added. "We recognize that an incident such as this will cause some to question their trust in us. The only way we can begin to win back that trust is to complete the investigation, be transparent, and be accountable. That is exactly what we intend to do."

According to the city, Legg was hired with Alpharetta Department of Public Safety on Feb. 12 of this year. Before that, he worked as a crossfit coach at a studio in Forsyth County from January 2016 to September 2017. Before becoming a coach, he was employed with the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office as a deputy from July 2015 to January 2016 and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office from July 2008 to March 2015. He also served in the U.S. Army, with active duty service from May 2005 to July 2006 and January 2010 to July 2010. Legg was also a firefighter with the Brevard County, Florida, Fire Rescue Department from February 2003 to June 2008.

The controversial traffic stop began on Friday, May 4, when an officer pulled over Campbell along Windward Parkway after she allegedly failed to maintain her lane on the exit ramp from Ga. 400.

Alpharetta police said on its Facebook page that Campbell, who was behind the wheel of an SUV, drifted into another lane, "nearly causing a collision," while making a left turn from the exit ramp to Windward.

The traffic stop proceeded without fireworks until Campbell refused to sign the citation she was being issued by the officer. However, that move resulted in the officer placing her under arrest, which compelled the woman to ask to speak with a supervisor. The officer radioed in for his supervisor to be en route, and asked the woman to step out of the car.

Campbell refused, adding, "Sir, I'm going to wait for your supervisor," before she would exit the SUV. Both the officer and woman debated back and forth about whether she needed to sign the citation. The woman, who eventually signed the citation, then tried to close the door, which lightly tapped the officer in the back. The officer reached for Campbell and demanded that she exit the vehicle, as he was placing her under arrest for disorderly conduct. The woman remained in the car, adding she would rather wait for a supervisor to arrive at the scene.

"Stop it!" Campbell said, when the officer tried to pull her from the vehicle. "You're in violation of my rights. Your supervisor needs to come now!"

It should be noted that at that moment, a female passenger inside the vehicle could be seen getting out of the vehicle and moving off to the side. The officer tried to remove the driver from the car, but she didn't budge, responding with "No, sir," every time the cop told her to get out of the SUV. She continued to demand to see the supervisor.

"This is ridiculous," Campbell can be heard saying. "I need the supervisor. I am being abused. I need the supervisor now!"

The officer continued to tug on the woman and she told the officer, "If you break my arm, we're going to have a problem." Another officer arrived on the scene and joined in the effort to remove the woman from the vehicle.

"Ma'am come on out of the car," the second officer could be heard saying. "You just don't listen. We're not going to try to hurt you."

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The woman told the second officer that she would come out of the car "for you." At that time, the third officer, James Legg, arrived on the scene and within 30 seconds, began to yell at the woman.

"Hey!" he screamed at Campbell. "You're not in charge. Shut the f--- up and get out of the car!"

Campbell stepped out of the vehicle and asked in a surprised tone, "Who are you talking to you?

Legg screamed, "You!" The woman asked for the officer's name and he responded by stating, "Officer Legg. Shut your mouth." Legg then forcibly grabbed Campbell by the arm and neck and she began to scream. She once again asked: "Where's the supervisor?" Legg could be seen on camera pulling the woman by the arm and shoving her while police escorted her to the police car in handcuffs.

"I want the supervisor, now!" Campbell said. The officers eventually placed the woman in the back of a patrol car.

Robison, who said his department strives to be a transparent organization with the public, added he had some "major concerns" about how the traffic stop was handled.

"There are aspects of this video that you are likely about to watch that simply do not represent who we are as an organization," he said, adding an internal affairs investigation has been launched to look into the case. "Once a detailed investigation is completed, I can assure you that there will be a decisive and appropriate outcome following that investigation."

Alpharetta Department of Public Safety said on its Facebook page that Georgia law requires motorists to sign a citation, as a ticket is technically an arrest that requires a bond.

"Officers are permitted, at their discretion, to release people on a signature bond for most traffic tickets, city ordinance violations and certain state law charges," the agency added. "If the violator refuses to sign the ticket, they will be taken into custody and brought before a magistrate (judge) to pay a cash bond as a promise to appear in court."

The department added the officer's behavior, which amounts to inappropriate "language and tactics," does not reflect the organization, and the investigative process will allow the agency to review the incident and determine what actions would be appropriate moving forward.

You can view the entire video, including the chief's message, below, but the exchange begins around the 13-minute mark. Please note the video contains strong language.

Images via Alpharetta Department of Public Safety's video