DA plans to charge officer who shot naked man

But after he twice refused Olsen’s commands to stop, the 27-year-old SC native was fatally shot by the officer.

Hill’s girlfriend, Bridget Anderson, and his family have long demanded that Olsen face criminal charges.

On Thursday, DeKalb District Attorney Robert James announced he will seek a six-count indictment, including two counts of felony murder, against Olsen.

Georgia prosecutors are recommending that a criminal grand jury indict an officer accused of shooting an unarmed man.

“If I shot a naked guy in self-defense I wouldn’t get a chance to present my case before a grand jury”, said Marietta defense attorney Philip Holloway, a former prosecutor. “Our position is that the facts and the circumstances surrounding the shooting death of Anthony Hill warrant a charge for felony murder”, District Attorney James said. The state is the only one to permit officers facing possible criminal charges to be present for the entirety of the grand jury proceedings and to give a statement at the conclusion which is not subject to cross-examination.

“There will be more evidence submitted this time around”, said James.

The civil grand jury was split evenly on whether Olsen should be charged, though they recommended further investigation. Tensions between police and minorities have risen across the country in the aftermath of a series of officer-involved shootings mostly involving white law enforcement officers and unarmed African-American males.

James’ decision to bring it to a grand jury is a step closer to an indictment, she said, adding that she hopes the grand jurors will agree that charges are appropriate.

James said at the time that he had “serious concerns” about the case. That further investigation came to an end earlier this week, he said, and he notified Olsen that his office would seek indictments at 8:30 a.m. January 21.

Olsen argued that at the time of the shooting, Hill – who was naked – was acting aggressively.

Olsen said his Taser or baton would have been ineffective in subduing Hill because suspects high on PCP or bath salts don’t feel pain.

Hill’s family in November filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the DeKalb County Police Department, Olsen, the county and its board of commissioners.

Officers said it started when Olsen responded to a suspicious person call at The Heights at Chamblee apartments on Chamblee Dunwoody Road in March.