ATLANTA, GEORGIA – An Atlanta police officer was arrested Thursday on domestic violence charges.
Officer Terrance Alexander is accused of hitting his girlfriend, but this is not his first brush with the law.
In 2004, Alexander was fired after he was caught on surveillance video attacking a woman in an airport parking lot. Alexander threw Diana Dietrich-Barnes to the ground outside Hartsfield-Jackson because he said she had refused to move her car.
Atlanta police settled a lawsuit with Barnes for more than $300,000. The police department rehired him after a civilian board overturned his firing.
In the latest incident, Alexander was arrested after a fight with his girlfriend at his Briarcliff Road apartment. His girlfriend, 18-year-old Aleka Simmons, said Alexander hit her, but the officer said she hit him and he only tried to hold her down.
Officers discovered Simmons had two outstanding warrants. Alexander was under investigation for a work-related incident and has been on desk duty pending the outcome, authorities said.
The 11-year veteran is scheduled for a meeting with the police chief that will determine his future with the department, police said.
