Paul Johnson

Less-than-lethal force

Three Marietta police responded to a late-afternoon call to an apartment building parking lot on reports of drug dealing. They arrested four men, one purely for complaining about their treatment of Johnson, who they continued to beat when he was prone on the ground, and who they kept in a choke hold while cuffed. Johnson made it to a holding cell, complained of illness, and died. His mother was not allowed to view his body.