Investigation Underway into Arrest of Virginia University Honors Student

The Virginia State Police said that an administrative review and criminal investigation are underway into the arrest of University of Virginia honors student Martese Johnson to determine whether the officers who arrested him complied with law enforcement guidelines.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — An administrative review and criminal investigation are underway into the arrest of University of Virginia honors student Martese Johnson to determine whether the officers who arrested him complied with law enforcement guidelines, the Virginia State Police said in a statement.

“Virginia State Police is conducting a comprehensive investigation into the March 18, 2015, arrest by Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) special agents,” the statement, issued on Thursday, read.

“At the request of Governor Terry McAuliffe, an administrative review is underway; and, at the request of the City of Charlottesville Commonwealth’s Attorney, a criminal investigation is also underway,” it added.

Early on Wednesday, ABC agents and a local policeman arrested the 20-year-old Johnson for public intoxication and obstruction of justice outside of a local bar.

A video detailing Johnson’s arrest was published online, showing the student being forced to the ground with his bleeding head on the pavement held down by the officers, while yelling “I go to UVA,” and calling the officers “racists.”

Following Johnson’s arrest, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe responded by ordering the State Police to launch an investigation into the incident.

The administrative review by the State Police’s Professional Standards Unit is looking to determine whether the ABC agents’ actions during the arrest “were consistent and in compliance with their agency’s policy,” the Thursday statement read.

“Both elements of this investigation will take time to conduct and complete,” Virginia State Police Superintendent Colonel W. Steven Flaherty said in the statement.

“We owe it to both Mr. Johnson and the Virginia ABC to be painstakingly thorough in determining the facts of the situation through interviews, evidence collection and analysis, and investigative procedure. We appreciate the public’s patience as we move through the investigative process in the coming weeks,” Colonel Flaherty added.

Thousands of protesters gathered on the University of Virginia campus Wednesday evening and on Thursday demanding that justice be brought to Johnson for his arrest.

Johnson received ten stiches at the UVA’s Medical Center after the arrest, and was “absolutely devastated” by the incident, according to a statement from his attorney Daniel Watkins on Wednesday.

Wednesday’s arrest follows several similar incidents over the past year that have taken the center stage in the United States of seemingly race-related police brutality, causing widespread protests and debate on US police practices.