A white North Carolina cop who beat, choked, and used a Taser on a black man he suspected of jaywalking has resigned and will face assault charges.Officer Christopher Hickman, 31, of Asheville, North Carolina, was removed from patrol the day after the incident occurred last August. On Thursday, Hickman officially resigned, and a judge issued a warrant for his arrest on counts of assault by strangulation, assault inflicting serious injury, and communicating threats.Body-camera footage released in February shows just how intensely Hickman attacks the suspected jaywalker, 33-year-old Johnnie Jermaine Rush. Along with Officer Verino Ruggiero, Hickman questions Rush over the alleged jaywalking. Ruggiero gives Rush two options: be arrested, or receive a ticket."It doesn't matter to me, man," Rush responds in the video. "Do what you have got to do, besides keep harassing me."Hickman then instructs Rush to put his hands behind his back. Rush then flees.“He thinks it’s funny. You know what’s funny? You’re going to get fucked up hardcore,” Hickman can be heard saying in the video, while pulling out a stun gun. Rush can be heard repeatedly exclaiming “I can’t breathe” as Hickman beats him in the head and uses a stun gun on him.Both Asheville’s police chief and mayor have apologized to Rush, who filed an official complaint with the city over the excessive use of force.
Advertisement
Cover image: Screen shot of body-cam footage showing the victim, Johnnie Jermaine Rush.