Nine Georgia sheriff's deputies were fired over the death of a 22-year-old black college student who was placed in restraints in police custody, officials said Friday.
Chatham County Sheriff Al. St. Lawrence said the firings followed an internal investigation and a separate probe by the Georgia Bureau of Investigations into the New Year’s Day death of Matthew Ajibade.
Ajibade was arrested on domestic violence charges Jan. 1 after Savannah-Chatham police found his girlfriend with a bruised face and broken nose while responding to a domestic disturbance call, police said.
His girlfriend handed police a bottle of Ajibade’s prescription medication for bipolar disorder before he was carted off, Ajibade’s family said.
During booking, Ajibade allegedly began fighting with deputies and injured three of them, the sheriff's office said. One reportedly had a concussion and broken nose.