US police officer resigns after wrongfully arresting undocumented teen

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/25/georgia-police-officer-resigns-arrest-undocumented-student

A Georgia police officer resigned from his job on Friday after erroneously pulling over a teenager, causing her to spend more than two weeks in a federal immigration jail, and leaving her facing deportation.

The officer, Leslie O’Neal, was employed at the police department in Dalton, a small city more than an hour north of Atlanta.

His arrest of college student Ximena Arias-Cristobal not only led to a domino effect that could lead to her deportation – it also engendered anger and criticism, especially given the circumstances of her immigration-related detention.

122 points · 5 comments · view on lemmy.world

5 Comments

pageflight@lemmy.world · 49 pts · 1y (3 replies)

“The department’s silence in the face of widespread defamation has not only made my position personally untenable but has also created an environment where I can no longer effectively carry out my duties within the city of Dalton without fear of further backlash from the community,” O’Neal wrote in the letter.

What I hear is: publicizing and criticizing individuals' actions works to stop them.

driving_crooner@lemmy.eco.br · 33 pts · 1y (2 replies)

Another take: he resigned because the department didn't come out to defend his actions.

He's just gonna move out to the next town and keep committing crimes protected by the badge.

Kookie215@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 1y (1 reply)

He's going to go work for ICE now, this is going to get him expedited through the process. He'll probably be running his own team by the end of 6 months.

Maeve@kbin.earth · 0 pts · 1y

May the forces forbid!

THB@lemmy.world · 19 pts · 1y

Was hoping it was because they felt some kind of shame, but no, of course not.