##  [Citizen Report No. 1651007688 - 53178475](/citizen-report-no-1651007688-53178475) 

  [![](/sites/default/files/styles/square_500_x_500_/public/2022-04/Billy%20Wheeler2.jpg?itok=jzcaqYIF)](/individual/william-billy-%20wheeler)William (Billy) Wheeler

 









 

 



 

 

**[Valdosta Police Department](/georgia/valdosta-police-department)**

500 North Toombs Street 

Valdosta, Georgia 31601

[(229) 293-3150](tel:%28229%29293-3150)



[https://www.valdost…](https://www.valdostacity.com/police-department)





 

 



 

 

 [![](/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2022-04/LOGO.jpg?itok=_AnetO1p)](/georgia/valdosta-police-department)





 

 



 

 

 





## Date of Offense

February 8, 2020





 

 



 

 

## Offense(s)

[False Statements](/duty/false-statements)





[Use of Force](/duty/use-force)





[Misconduct](/duty/misconduct)





[Conduct Unbecoming](/duty-adjacent/conduct-unbecoming)





[Perjury](/duty-adjacent/perjury)





 

 



 

 

 







 

 

## Supporting Document(s)

 [New video](/sites/default/files/2022-04/yt5s.com-Mistaken%20identity%20leads%20to%20Black%20man%27s%20arrest.mp4 "yt5s.com-Mistaken identity leads to Black man's arrest.mp4")

 [News Article](/sites/default/files/2022-04/www-valdostadailytimes-com-news-update-5-52-p-m-attorneys-in-excessive-force-cas.pdf "www-valdostadailytimes-com-news-update-5-52-p-m-attorneys-in-excessive-force-cas.pdf")

 [700k lawsuit](/sites/default/files/2022-04/Smith-Complaint.pdf "Smith-Complaint.pdf")

 [Assault photo 1 ](/sites/default/files/2022-04/ValdostaB%20Wheeler1.jpg "ValdostaB Wheeler1.jpg")

 [Assault photo 2](/sites/default/files/2022-04/ValdostaB%20Wheeler2.jpg "ValdostaB Wheeler2.jpg")

 [City of Valdosta denies liability, but offers 350k ](/sites/default/files/2022-04/abcnews-go-com-US-wireStory-350000-settlement-offered-police-takedown-wrong-man-.pdf "abcnews-go-com-US-wireStory-350000-settlement-offered-police-takedown-wrong-man-.pdf")

 

 

 

## Statement

On 2/8/2020 Public law enforcement Officer William (Billy) Wheeler unlawfully used force on a black man; grabbing him from behind constricting his movement with violent force and slammed him to the ground braking bones in the citizens' wrist. Sergeant Wheeler, (he was promoted to Lieutenant Wheeler after this violent offense – See Police Chief Leslie Manahan). Wheeler then lied and wrote a report contradicting video evidence. He provided NO aid to the victim and left the scene without providing a report/case # to the man he assaulted. He called medical, then left the scene; the victim was too fearful to remain with 5 officers who just assaulted him, and begged to leave. He reported the victim refused to be arrested (for no reason other than he was standing in a field talking to an officer) after he snuck up behind him and forcefully restrained, the victim's body and arms.



 

 

 

 





---



 

 

 

 

 [![United States Citizen Reporters](/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/2021-08/1186px-Scales_of_Justice_and_Wreath.svg_.png?itok=QQ8wLoSk "United States Citizen Reporters")](/united-states/us-citizen-reporters)





 

 



 

 

The US Citizen Reporters are a group of public and private defense advocates that scour the internet for documented incidents of police misconduct that have eluded accountability.





[Learn more >>>](/united-states/us-citizen-reporters)