Atlanta to pay $3.8 million to family of church deacon who died in struggle with officer

The Atlanta City Council has agreed to pay $3.8 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the family of a church deacon who died in a scuffle with a city police officer following a minor car accident.

The family of Deacon Johnny Hollman sued the city, Officer Kiran Kimbrough and Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum in January, alleging Kimbrough used excessive force after the 62-year-old man refused to sign a citation deeming him responsible for the accident.

An attorney for Kimbrough said Hollman resisted arrest and that Kimbrough acted lawfully when he deployed his stun gun and used force.

The municipal council, without comment, unanimously approved the by-law during its regular meeting on Monday.

An email Tuesday to a family attorney, Mawuli Davis, was not immediately returned.

Body camera video of Hollman’s Aug. 10 arrest shows Kimbrough shocked him with a stun gun after the deacon repeatedly said he couldn’t breathe. An autopsy determined Hollman’s death to be a homicide, with heart disease also a contributing factor.

Relatives say Hollman was returning home from Bible study at his daughter’s house and was bringing his wife dinner when he collided with another vehicle while crossing a busy street just west downtown.

In the body camera video released in November, Kimbrough repeatedly demands that Hollman sign the citation, but Hollman insists he did nothing wrong. The two men begin to confront each other.

Hollman finds himself face down with Kimbrough on top of him, pressing him down. He repeatedly says “I can’t breathe” and Kimbrough uses a Taser to shock him. Hollman no longer responds.

He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.