Man tased at Marjorie Taylor Greene town hall is a veteran; attorney wants charges dismissed

Editor’s note: The video above is from previous coverage.

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - A man who was tased by police at this week’s town hall hosted by U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is a veteran, according to his attorney, who is also asking for the charges against Johnny Williams to be dismissed.

On Friday, Carlos Rodriguez said Williams was “unlawfully arrested, assaulted by police, and twice shot with Tasers. Mr. Williams is innocent of the charges against him; he is not a criminal.

“A decorated veteran of the Marine Corps, honorably discharged at the rank of Staff Sergeant, Mr. Williams is a patriot and hero,” Rodriguez continued.

Williams, a resident of Dallas, Georgia, is facing charges of simple battery on a law enforcement officer and obstruction of a law enforcement officer.

The protests erupted during Greene’s town hall at the Acworth Community Center in northern Cobb County. Several officers were seen tackling one protester and dragging him out minutes after the event began. Another man was then asked to leave.

Shortly after that, officers hit a man with stun guns and took him out in handcuffs. Another person was also hit with a Taser.

Six people were escorted out without issue, and three others were arrested, according to Acworth city officials.

Besides Williams, Andrew Russell Nelms of Atlanta was charged with simple battery on a law enforcement officer and obstruction of a law enforcement officer. Kiyana Davis of Dallas was arrested for a misdemeanor vulgar language charge.

“Mr. Williams, a citizen in Georgia’s 14th congressional district, was not involved in any protest or disruption at the community center,” Rodriguez said. “He is an independent voter and, contrary to Congresswoman Greene’s statements, was not compensated for attending the town hall or affiliated in any way with the Democratic party.

“Instead, he was invited by the congresswoman’s staff to attend and register for the event.”

Rodriguez, a partner in the Marietta law firm of Kilgore & Rodriguez, is calling for Williams’ charges to be dismissed by the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office.

“After being assaulted, shot with a taser and injured, Mr. Williams was not treated at the hospital, despite the fact that another citizen who was also unlawfully arrested and tased at the town hall was taken to the hospital for evaluation,” Rodriguez said. “After Mr. Williams was booked in at the jail on Tuesday night, he was held in custody without bond for over 36 hours, despite the fact that the other citizen unlawfully arrested and charged was immediately granted a bond.”

Rodriguez’s firm represented Justin Ross Harris, the Cobb County father who was convicted of murder following the hot-car death of his 22-month-old son, Cooper. Rodriguez secured a dismissal of all murder and cruelty to children charges.

Atlanta News First reached out to Acworth police and the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office for comment but did not immediately hear back.

Atlanta News First and Atlanta News First+ provide you with the latest news, headlines and insights as Georgia continues its role at the forefront of the nation’s political scene. Download our Atlanta News First app for the latest political news and information.

Atlanta News First podcasts are available now on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | YouTubewas