The real reason why it took over two months to arrest Greg McMichael and Travis McMichael for killing Ahmaud Arbery is that District Attorney Jackie Johnson wouldn’t allow it.
Related: Ahmaud Arbery: Greg McMichael & Travis McMichael Arrested & Charged With Murder
Two Glynn County commissioners rang the alarm on DA Johnson’s office after the block got hot.
Commissioner Allen Booker, who has spoken with the Glynn County police, told the AJC:
The police at the scene went to her, saying they were ready to arrest both of them. These were the police at the scene who had done the investigation.
She shut them down to protect her friend McMichael.
Greg McMichael once worked as an investigator in Jackie Johnson’s office.
Commissioner Peter Murphy doubled down on the claim saying Glynn County PD told him officers at the scene of the February 23 shooting concluded they had probable cause to make an arrest and contacted Johnson’s office to inform them of the decision.
“They were told not to make an arrest,” Murphy said.
Days after blocking Travis and Greg McMichael’s arrest, District Attorney Jackie Johnson recused herself from the case.
Here she is pictured with her buddy, Greg McMichael:
The case was then handed over to Waycross Judicial Circuit District Attorney George Barnhill, who also told Glynn County PD he did not see probable cause to charge the McMichaels. Then, he too, recused himself from the case.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigations snatched up the case after a video of the killing began circulating online and there was a groundswell of outrage.
36 hours after the GBI opened a state investigation, both Travis and his daddy, Greg, were doing a perp walk.
They have been charged with murder and aggravated assault.
GBI Director Vic Reynolds said:
Probable cause was clear to our agents pretty quickly. I’m very comfortable in telling you there’s more than sufficient probable cause in charging felony murder.
The video was already out, we saw it, we reviewed the rest of the file and we made an arrest.
Every stone will be turned over, I promise you.
He also noted, “We’re investigating everyone involved in the case, including the individual who shot the video.”
Watch a portion of the press conference today:
Travis McMichael and Greg McMichael have been denied bond, but this case is far from over.
We are just getting started.
Today would have been Ahmaud Arbery’s 26th birthday. Say a prayer for his mother.
Source: AJC
