Fairfax County Cop Indicted For Taser Incident In Hybla Valley

HYBLA VALLEY, VA — A Fairfax County police officer was indicted by a grand jury Monday for a use-of-force incident against a Black resident in Hybla Valley.

As reported by the Washington Post, Tyler Timberlake faces three counts of assault and battery. These were the original charges against the officer. The Commonwealth's Attorney's office had dropped the charges to let the grand jury decide whether or not to indict Timberlake.

The use-of-force incident, captured on a body-worn camera of another officer, happened on June 5 on Fordson Road. Police and the fire department responded to a call around 1:30 p.m. for a man in crisis walking in the roadway. The body-worn camera video begins with the first officer on the scene and fire department personnel talking with the man. The man appeared to ask for detox treatment, and the personnel tried to talk him into entering an ambulance. The man continued to walk in the roadway but did not appear to show aggressive behavior.

Another officer, identified as Timberlake, arrives and use a Taser on the man. The officer appeared to have his knees on the man's back and tased the man on his neck. Officers and fire department personnel worked to restrain the man.

Lawyers for Timberlake have said the officer believed the man was someone else when he tased him, according to the Post.

The victim of the incident went to the hospital and was released.

After the event, Police Chief Ed Roessler Jr. called for criminal and administrative investigations, and Timberlake was charged with three counts of misdemeanor assault and battery.