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DALTON, Ga. (BFMG) — A Georgia police officer who mistakenly pulled over a college student later detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement has resigned, citing lack of departmental support amid public backlash.
In a resignation letter obtained by our outlet, Dalton Police Officer Leslie O’Neal said the department failed to adequately defend him against accusations of false arrest, which surfaced after charges stemming from the stop were dropped without explanation.
“The department’s silence in the face of widespread defamation has not only made my position personally untenable,” O’Neal wrote, “but has also created an environment where I can no longer effectively carry out my duties within the city of Dalton without fear of further backlash from the community.”
O’Neal had stopped 19-year-old Ximena Arias-Cristobal on May 5, mistakenly identifying her vehicle as one that made an illegal turn. Dash-cam footage from that day shows a black pickup truck driving past the officer, which police say had committed the infraction off camera. O’Neal instead stopped a dark gray truck driven by Arias-Cristobal according to Scripps News.
During the stop, Arias-Cristobal told the officer she had an international driver’s license but did not have it with her. In the video, O’Neal responded, “In the state of Georgia, when you’re driving without a license, do you know what happens?” After she said no, he replied, “You ever been to jail? Well, you’re going.”
Authorities later reviewed the footage and dropped the traffic charges, admitting Arias-Cristobal should not have been pulled over.
However, because she was brought to the United States illegally as a child, she was turned over to ICE and detained. She was released last week on a $1,500 bond after an immigration judge reviewed her case.
