HENRICO, VA.—
A Glen Allen is appealing a judge's ruling convicting him of improper driving and obstruction of justice.Greg High and his wife Jenny filed a complaint last month with the Virginia chapter of the NAACP alleging excessive force and harassment after a traffic altercation with a Henrico county police officer in October.
Prosecutors released an audiotape of an exchange between the officer and the driver days after that incident.
"I think more reasonable heads could've prevailed. I really do," said Defense Attorney Khalil Latif.
Defense attorney Khalil Latif is talking about a reckless driving charge that he says escalated into something much worse.
He says Henrico police used excessive force on October 30th while trying to serve Gregory High a warrant for an incident that happened 3 days before.
"It was an excitable or excited environment. Not a good situation actually."
In court, Officer J.M. Kewish testified that he went to the High's home with his supervisor and two other officers to serve a warrant.
Officer Kewish says he did so because 3 days before, he found Gregory to be agitated and upset when he confronted him about driving erractically on East Parham road to his Brant Lane home.
A moving violation that Gregory adamantly denied.
Prosecutors released an audiotape Wednesday of the night police officers showed up at High's house.
On the tape, Gregory refused to sign the warrant , saying "You're doing this in front of my kids and wife. I want you to leave my house now. Leave my house."
At one point, Gregory told his wife who insisted that he sign it , saying, "They will take this in front of the courtroom and lie and I will not go through it."
Officer Kewish told Gregory, "Mr. High, we need you to sign the warrant. We can go outside and talk about this. We don't have to do this in front of your wife and children."
Officer Kewish even read it to Gregory but he still refused to sign it.
That's when Gregory tells me he was Tasered several times.
He says his wife was knocked to the ground and that police tore her nightgown and bruised her arm.
They filed a formal complaint with the N-double-a-c-p.
"They came with a show of strength. So, I think they had some designs predetermined. If it cold happen to the High family it could happen to any of us," said VA. chapter of the NAACP Executive Director, King Salim Khalfani.
Henrico police would not release that audiotape to CBS 6, saying it's part of the investigation.
Nor would they talk on camera about this case.
They say it's still part of an administrative investigation.
So, they can't comment or offer anymore information at this time.
As for Gregory High, he heads back to court in March where a jury will hear this case.
CBS 6 is following this case and will keep you updated.
