Grade Point
By T. Rees Shapiro June 12 at 9:14 AM
@TReesShapiro

A judge on Friday accepted Charlottesville prosecutor Dave Chapman’s motion to drop charges against University of Virginia student Martese Johnson, who was bloodied in an arrest by police officers with the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Johnson was arrested in the early morning hours of March 18 after he was turned away from an Irish bar adjacent to campus during St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Johnson received 10 stitches to his head after he was thrown to the ground, handcuffed and shackled by ABC police officers.

Chapman on Thursday filed a court order dropping charges of public intoxication and obstructing justice without force. According to court documents, the ABC officers alleged Johnson’s eyes appeared “red and glassy” and that he acted belligerently during the arrest.
....

In a statement released Thursday, Chapman wrote that after reviewing the evidence he had decided against charging Johnson or the police officers involved in the altercation that sparked unrest and demonstrations on the bucolic campus. Black students seized upon the violent arrest to protest what they described as excessive use of force by police and tense race relations at the university and in Charlottesville.

by Caity Seed and Thrisha Potluri | Jun 12 2015 | 1 hour ago

Judge Robert H. Downer Jr. accepted Charlottesville Commonwealth's Attorney Dave Chapman’s motion to drop criminal charges against fourth-year College student Martese Johnson Friday morning at the Charlottesville General District Court.

The charges against Johnson occurred during the early hours of March 18 on the Corner outside of Trinity Irish Pub, after Johnson was arrested by Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control agents.