Lawsuit Names Tow Truck Driver and Employer in Death of Deacon Johnny Hollman

Atlanta Tow Truck Driver and Employer Face Lawsuit Over Deacon’s Death

ATLANTA, Ga. – A lawsuit has been filed against a tow truck driver and his employer, alleging that their actions contributed to the death of a deacon who was tased by a former Atlanta police officer during an arrest in August. Eric Robinson, a tow truck driver with S & W Towing Company, was named in the lawsuit as a direct cause of the injuries that led to the death of 62-year-old Johnny Hollman. The lawsuit was filed by Hollman’s family in DeKalb County State Court.

According to the lawsuit, Robinson was dispatched to the accident scene as part of his employer’s contract with the City of Atlanta. Upon arrival, Robinson allegedly witnessed a police officer physically restraining an elderly citizen. The officer, later identified as Kiran Kimbrough, was attempting to arrest Hollman for refusing to sign a traffic ticket.

The lawsuit claims that without being asked to assist, Robinson immediately joined the officer and forcefully grabbed Hollman’s arm. He then straddled Hollman’s head and neck with his full body weight. The lawsuit further alleges that Robinson remained on top of Hollman even after he was handcuffed, stating, “I ain’t did this s**t in so long, I forgot what it (was) like.”

During the arrest, Hollman was tased. The lawsuit states that Hollman repeatedly complained about not being able to breathe. The family is seeking a jury trial and punitive damages.

Following an internal investigation, Kimbrough was fired by the Atlanta Police Department. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation also opened an investigation and ruled Hollman’s death a homicide. An autopsy revealed that Hollman had underlying health issues, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes.

This is an ongoing story, and updates will be provided by Atlanta News First.