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- The Georgia State Patrol is investigating a trooper filmed stomping on a suspect.
- Authorities said the trooper used "foot strikes" because he had seen the man with a gun.
- The man was eventually arrested on nine charges, including a gun charge.
The Georgia State Patrol has launched an investigation after one of its troopers was seen in multiple videos apparently stomping on a person lying on the ground, local media outlets reported.
The videos, published by the popular ATL Uncensored accounts on Twitter and Instagram, showed the trooper stomping on the man, who had fallen to the ground. One of the videos showed a brief chase leading up to the altercation, and showed the trooper using a Taser on the man just before he hit the ground.
In a statement to 11 Alive, the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) said the trooper had originally pulled the man over on October 3 for not wearing a seatbelt – but the man drove away, then jumped out of his car and fled on foot. GSP told ABC News that the suspect was on probation for assault and had a warrant out for his arrest on a battery charge at the time. During the chase, the trooper saw a handgun fall from the man's waistband, but didn't see where it landed, the statement said.
"The driver fell to the ground and failed to display his hands. The driver was given verbal commands but refused to show his right hand. The trooper was unaware if the driver was still armed," the statement said.
GSP told ABC News that the trooper then "applied a foot strike to the center of the driver's body and then another to the driver's right-hand area, which appeared to still be in the waistband."
GSP's use of force policy says troopers may use force "where the use of force reasonably appears necessary in order to affect a detention or an arrest, overcome resistance, control a subject, or protect themselves and others from injury."
Authorities identified the suspect in the video as Jamarco Lucas, 27, according to WSB-TV. The station reported that Lucas was charged after the incident with fleeing or attempting to elude, obstruction of a law enforcement officer, possession of a firearm with an altered serial number, reckless driving, speeding, improper lane change, failure to obey a traffic control device, driving while unlicensed, and no seatbelt.
GSP did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
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