BALDWIN COUNTY, Ga. (WGXA) — A Baldwin County deputy will return to work after a state use-of-force investigation found his actions lawful in connection with a trespassing arrest at a Texaco gas station in August. Deputy Harker attempted to arrest Brown for criminal trespass at 1561 Vinson Highway in Milledgeville on Aug. 3. Brown then tried to flee, leading to an altercation between the two. A 12-second video caught a moment from the arrest. It sparked a strong reaction online as the video circulated on social media, showing Deputy Harker on top of Brown and repeatedly punching him in the face. WGXA later obtained body-camera footage of the arrest, showing the full incident. Brown was ultimately tased, restrained and arrested, and charged with aggravated assault on a peace officer, obstruction of officers and criminal trespass. Deputy Harker was treated for minor injuries on scene. Now, the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office is announcing that Deputy Harker will remain on the job, citing the completion of a use-of-force investigation into the incident conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). Assistant District Attorney Pro Tempore Lalaine Briones reviewed the case and concluded that Deputy Harker "was acting within the lawful scope of his authority, and his actions were reasonable and in accordance with law." In a full report prepared by the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia, ADA Briones looked to various cases that set legal precedent relevant to…
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