Atlanta Police Officer Garrett Rolfe has been charged with simple assault following a bar fight in Midtown last month.
Rolfe made international headlines in 2020 when he fatally shot Rayshard Brooks during a DUI arrest at a Wendy’s in southwest Atlanta. Rolfe was fired and charged with murder, but after charges were dropped, he was reinstated with the department.
APD said in a statement on Wednesday that “following a thorough and methodical investigation,” it had charged Rolfe with simple assault following a fight at X Midtown bar on June 29.
The statement said evidence will be turned over to the Fulton County Solicitor General’s Office for further review. “Rolfe remains on administrative leave while we continue our internal investigation and await the outcome of all judicial proceedings,” the statement said.
According to witnesses, Rolfe, who was off-duty, was asked to leave the bar by bartender Ray Penrice, 52. Rolfe then allegedly hit the bartender numerous times before Penrice retaliated. Penrice was later arrested on battery charges. It is unknown if the charges against Penrice will be dropped after APD charged Rolfe.
“The Atlanta Police Department remains committed to serving its citizens and holding its employees to the highest standards on and off duty,” the APD statement said.
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