Georgia Authorities Investigate After Deputy Body Slams Suspect in Shocking Dashcam Footage

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is stepping in to examine an arrest involving a Paulding County sheriff's deputy who used excessive force on a civilian. The investigation was prompted by the release of dashcam footage showing Deputy Michael McMaster slamming Tyler Canaris, a 30-year-old man, to the ground during a routine stop.

The incident began when McMaster approached Canaris, who was walking through the Evans Mills subdivision on his way to work. The deputy stopped him because he allegedly resembled a suspect in a series of car break-ins. Canaris, however, denied any involvement, saying he was just commuting to his job.

Dashcam footage reveals that Canaris tried to explain his situation to McMaster, but the deputy's skepticism escalated the encounter. In the video, McMaster aggressively picks up Canaris and slams him onto the pavement. Canaris can be heard yelling as the deputy shouts expletives and demands that he put his hands behind his back. McMaster then hurls a vulgar insult at Canaris as he cuffs him.

Despite his cries of innocence, Canaris was arrested and charged with obstruction. Later, the sheriff's office admitted that Canaris wasn't the person they were searching for and lived in the very neighborhood where he was stopped. After the video surfaced, causing a public outcry, the sheriff's office called on the GBI to conduct a thorough investigation into the use of force.

Sgt. Ashley Henson, spokesperson for the Paulding County Sheriff's Office, explained that the GBI was brought in due to growing scrutiny over the incident. According to Henson, McMaster's actions were in response to Canaris's resistance when he refused to give up his backpack. However, the sheriff's office acknowledged that this explanation didn't justify the level of violence used in the arrest.

McMaster has since been placed on desk duty while the investigation is underway. Canaris, who suffered a broken collarbone during the encounter, now faces a legal battle to clear his name and hold the deputy accountable for the unwarranted use of force. This event occurred nearly a year ago, but only recently came to light, raising concerns about transparency and accountability within the sheriff's office.