The indictment handed down yesterday charged Olsen with two counts of felony murder, one count of aggravated assault, one count of making a false statement and two counts of violation of oath by a public officer. The felony murder charge alleges Olsen killed Hill while committing aggravated assault or while he was violating his oath of office.
The grand jury had met in October but felt they did not have enough information to make a decision and asked for more evidence.
DeKalb County District Attorney Robert James said, “My job is to uphold the laws of Georgia and prosecute anyone who violates them. This case is no exception. The facts and circumstances surrounding the shooting death of Anthony Hill warranted felony murder charges.”
During the daylight hours of March 9, 2015, a person who lived in the same apartment complex as Hill called police to report a naked man walking around outside his unit. Olsen arrived a ordered the 27-year-old to get on the ground. According to the officer, Hill refused to comply with two orders and the man at charged him before being shot twice. A cellphone video showed the naked man on the ground at the time he was shot.
Olsen claimed he shot in self defence and believed Hill had taken PCP or bath salts that resulted in erratic behaviour and his failure to follow commands.
According to Hill’s family, the victim was bipolar and suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and his mental problems were first diagnosed when he was in the Air Force. The family says he had stopped taking his medication and was having a non-violent episode when he was shot. Hill’s girlfriend said he had a difficult time trying to get help from the Department of Veteran Affairs after serving a tour of duty in Afghanistan.
Dozens of people waited outside the courthouse until the grand jury decision came down. The elated crowd cheered and chanted “All six counts” after they learned of the decision.
Hill’s mother thanked the crowd, many of whom had camped out since Monday, and said she was pleased with the decision. The family blamed Hill’s death on the lack of training police have in dealing with the mentally ill.
Last November, the family filed a wrongful death suit against Olsen, the police department, the county and the county’s board of commissioners.
Olsen is a seven-year veteran of the DeKalb County Police Department. His lawyer, Don Samuel, sent a statement to CNN saying there were witnesses who did not testify before the grand jury and who would have said the shooting was reasonable. Samuel said, “Officer Olsen is a distinguished member of the police department who has never been accused of using excessive force and has never discharged his firearm in the line of duty. When this case is presented in a fair manner to a jury in an open courtroom, Officer Olsen will be fully exonerated.”
As soon as the grand jury reached their decision, a judge signed a warrant for Olsen’s arrest. He was later taken into custody.
