ABC agents involved in bloody arrest return to regular duty

Three Virginia state agents involved in the bloody arrest of a U. Va. student that prompted allegations of racism followed procedures and did nothing wrong, the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Department (ABC) said Monday. Johnson, who is black, could be heard on the recordings calling the officers racist.

According to an official press release, the three unidentified agents were cleared of of any wrongdoing following a third party investigation conducted by the Virginia State Police, a separate entity from the ABC.

Authorities say that the agents have been faraway from lively duty pending an administrative assessment of the incident in which Johnson’s arrest by ABC agents was caught on video and went viral on social media.

The ABC said that, in accordance with Virginia law, the independent state police review will not be released.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe ordered retraining, with an emphasis on de-escalation tactics. The resisting arrest and public intoxication charges initially filed against the student were dropped, with Chapman saying it was in the community’s best interest to move on.

The department is also participating in the Enforcement Expert Review Panel, which is scheduled to meet later this month. The Virginia ABC Bureau of Law Enforcement worked with the Department of Criminal Justice, splitting training into two sessions lasting two weeks each that were completed in June and July.

The agents had reasonable suspicion that Johnson had a fake ID though, Chapman has said, because he was turned away from a bar after the owner clearly scrutinized his ID.

The officers remain unidentified due to privacy laws regarding personnel and the administrative review will not be released.

The training included instruction in the use of force, cultural diversity, effective interaction with youth and community policing.

Johnson’s attorney Daniel Watkins told the Daily News he read the statement Monday morning and has no comment. Undercover agents surrounded Elizabeth Daly’s vehicle, one pulling a gun and another trying to break her windshield with a flashlight. The incident sparked a public backlash, and she settled a lawsuit for $212,500.