A former Georgia lawmaker plans to sue Clayton County for ousting him from office after he was filmed yelling at the doctor who allegedly found him passed out drunk outside a sports bar.
Felicia Franklin announced that she is filing a wrongful termination lawsuit after county officials voted unanimously to fire her from her position as vice chairwoman of the Board of Commissioners over the September altercation, which was caught on police-worn body cameras, according to the Daily Mail.
Franklin – who is also running for county chairman – claims in the lawsuit that the “traumatic and unfortunate incident” outside 404 Sports Bar and Grill in Morrow happened after she was “drugged ‘date rape’.”
The suit claims her “night took a turn for the worse” and she was found “crying and clearly in a prone position” when police arrived.
But Sgt. Scott Stewart of the Morrow Police Department said, “We found no evidence to support that he was actually drugged with GHB.”
Felicia Franklin reportedly plans to sue Clayton County officials for firing her from the Board of Commissioners.Felicia Franklin / Facebook
He said officers reviewed security footage that showed Franklin walking alone to a sports bar and ordering several drinks.
“He probably had three and a half, four drinks, then a beer,” Stewart told Fox 5.
Police claim the footage shows Franklin having three drinks “That’s a home run”, consisting of 40 proof Hennessy and Grand Marnier, followed by a glass of wine and a sip of someone else’s beer.
When police arrived, body camera footage showed him lying on the ground outside the bar.
Officers can be seen lifting him up and onto a gurney while he is still unconscious, before he starts screaming, crying and cursing at first responders.
The next day police found Franklin lying on the ground, apparently passed out drunk outside a bar in September. EWU Bodycam / Youtube Officers can be seen lifting him up and onto a gurney while he is still unconscious, before he starts screaming, crying and cursing at first responders. EWU Bodycam / Youtube
At one point, Franklin can be seen yelling, “I don’t know what they gave me.”
He can also be seen punching an EMT in an ambulance and repeatedly yelling at him to “get the f– out of my face.”
When an officer told her, “Ma’am, you’re going to jail,” Franklin replied, “I don’t give a f—, get him out of my face.”
He also cried “Don’t leave me, don’t leave me” as he was taken to a local hospital, where he was transferred to a bed — and became more agitated, calling for his mother.
Afterward, another video of Franklin being questioned by police shows police confronting him with a receipt that proves he had more drinks than he initially claimed.
“I don’t have five drinks … I have five drinks? I don’t remember there being five drinks,” he said in response, claiming the other drinks listed were for other people.
Franklin can later be seen in the ambulance hitting the EMT and repeatedly yelling at him to “get the f— out of my face.” EWU Bodycam / Youtube
Investigators said they found no evidence anyone tampered with his drink, and claimed a toxicology report found marijuana in his system.
“He refused a blood test, but he did a urine test, and it showed positive for cannabinoids, also known as marijuana,” Stewart said.
But when word of the incident spread, Franklin claimed on October 1 that he had been drugged at the bar.
“It is believed by medical professionals that I was drugged with GHB pills, better known as ‘date rape pills,’ and this incident has shaken me,” he wrote on Facebook.
“I will work closely with the authorities to ensure that justice is done, and I will also support better security measures at events like this,” he claimed.
Officials said the urine test was positive for marijuana, and claimed they found no evidence of anyone tampering with his drink.EWU Bodycam / Youtube
“No one should have to go through what I went through, and I want to thank you all for your support during this challenging time.”
The police department now says the case is “closed,” noting that the EMT decided not to press charges.
However, in late October, Franklin was unanimously removed from his position as vice chairman as some residents urged Gov. Brian Kemp to fire him.
“The video speaks for itself. What else can we say?” Chairman Jeff Turner told WSB-TV about the decision.
“We represent the citizens of Clayton County and we need to make sure we present ourselves in a way that our citizens will be proud of us.”
Another video of Franklin being questioned by police shows the police confronting him with a receipt that proves he had more drinks than he initially claimed.EWU Bodycam / Youtube
Franklin reportedly called the move illegal during the meeting, as he said he would still run for chairman.
“Today, two of my political opponents held a special meeting called to replace me as vice chairman of the board with another commissioner,” he wrote on Facebook.
“This move by them will free up more of my time a month early so that I can fully commit to being elected to the chairman’s seat so that we can finally move our district forward.”
The Post has reached out to Clayton County officials for comment.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
