By Megan Matteucci
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A DeKalb County police officer is on paid administrative leave while police investigate allegations he illegally handcuffed a woman and broke her wrist.
Officer Jameel H. Fraser is under investigation for briefly detaining a Chamblee woman while he was off-duty, police spokeswoman Mekka Parish said.
The woman said she did not know Fraser nor that he was an officer, since he was dressed in civilian clothes.
The allegations stem from a dispute over a cell phone conversation last week.
Kimia McMoore, 34, said she was talking to her daughter on her Bluetooth cell phone outside her apartment on North Hill Parkway when Fraser began harassing her.
According to a police report, Fraser asked McMoore who she was talking to and she pointed to her Bluetooth. Fraser then followed her to her car and attempted to detain her, McMoore told police.
McMoore said she pushed Fraser away and the two continued to argue. She called 911.
That’s when Fraser left momentarily and called for back-up, claiming the woman was being disorderly. He returned with a set of handcuffs and placed a cuff on the woman’s right wrist, the report states.
Police arrived and placed McMoore -- who had her hands cuffed behind her back -- in the back seat of a patrol car. After questioning the two, police released McMoore without any charges, according to the report.
McMoore said Fraser never showed any identification and she did not know he was an officer.
Fraser, who was dressed in shorts, a T-shirt and a DKPD ball cap, told police he advised the woman he was an officer. But he but did not have a badge or any identification with him, he said.
McMoore was treated at Northside Hospital for a broken wrist, according to hospital records. McMoore said she injured her wrist when Fraser placed the handcuff on her.
Parish said the incident is under investigation and Fraser has been placed on leave with pay. Fraser, who is assigned to evening watch in the Tucker Precinct, has been on the force for a year and eight months, Parish said.
McMoore said she applied for a warrant in DeKalb County Magistrate Court. As of Wednesday afternoon, no warrant had been issued.
Fraser did not return a phone call left at the precinct Wednesday.
Copyright 2009 Atlanta Journal-Constitution