Update #3, 04/26/2017: (Lawrenceville, Georgia) Gwinnett County Police have charged 42 year old Michael Bongiovanni and 25 year old Robert McDonald with the following charges:

Michael Bongiovanni

• Violation of Oath of Office (Felony)
• Battery (Misdemeanor)

Robert McDonald

• Violation of Oath of Office (Felony)
• Battery (Misdemeanor)

The Gwinnett County Police Department worked closely with the District Attorney’s Office during the investigation. Chief Butch Ayers said, “The police department and its employees will continue to serve the citizens while maintaining our core values and highest level of professionalism.”

Update #2, 04/13/2017:

(Lawrenceville, Georgia) Sergeant Michael Bongiovanni has been terminated from the Gwinnett County Police Department and a second criminal investigation has been launched.During the course of the internal investigation, a second video from a different angle was discovered by police on the internet. The video was contrary to what was reported by Michael Bongiovanni. The video was filmed by a witness and shows the man getting out of the car with both hands up. As he stands with his hands up, Michael Bongiovanni strikes the man in the face.

The revelations uncovered in this entire investigation are shocking. We are fortunate that this second video was found and we were able to move swiftly to terminate a supervisor who lied and stepped outside of his training and state law. Michael Bongiovanni was hired September 1998 and graduated the police academy February 1999.

We acknowledge that the actions of these two officers have implications that will be felt for some time. However, we also believe that our decisive action in terminating both officers speaks volumes about what is expected of each officer that wears a Gwinnett County Police badge. 

Update #1, 04/13/2017:

(Lawrenceville, Georgia) TheGwinnett County Police Department has terminated the employment of Master Police Officer Robert McDonald. He was identified as the officer who kicked a handcuffed man in the head yesterday. He was hired August of 2013 and graduated from the police academy in March of 2014. We have also launched a criminal investigation that will ultimately be sent to the District Attorney’s Office. What happened yesterday was clearly outside of state law and department policy. We do not tolerate actions that are not consistent with our core values or state law.

The investigation into this incident was initiated by the shift commander. The video was very crucial to the investigation and it confirmed that the force used was unnecessary and excessive.

Robert McDonald stepped outside of the guiding principles of our agency, and as a result of his actions he was terminated less than 24 hours after the incident occurred. The actions by this former officer do not represent the officers of this department who dedicate their lives to serving the community on a daily basis.

Original, 04/13/2017:

(Lawrenceville, Georgia) On April 12, 2017, around 4 p.m., a Gwinnett County police officer was involved in a use of force where a handcuffed man was kicked in the head. An ambulance responded to the scene and treated the man. The officer was responding as a backup officer to assist a supervisor with a traffic stop at the intersection of Sugarloaf Parkway at Lawrenceville Suwanee Road. The video was captured on a cell phone by a witness in traffic. 

After the arrest, the shift commander initiated an immediate investigation into the incident. The officer was placed on administrative leave, his department issued firearm was taken, and he was sent home. He will not be operating in a law enforcement capacity while this case is being investigated. The cell phone video is very disturbing and it speaks for itself. We will conduct a thorough investigation. We expect an update to this story before the close of business today.