SAVANNAH, Ga. — A white police officer who slammed a Black man to the ground and broke his wrist denies wrongdoing, saying he mistakenly believed the man had an outstanding arrest warrant and used force because the man resisted, the officer’s attorneys said in a legal filing.
Antonio Arnelo Smith filed suit in federal court in June against Valdosta police Lt. Billy Wheeler, as well as other officers and city officials, saying they used excessive force and violated his civil rights.
The…
