The recent indictment of former Woodstock police officer Grant Matthew Shaw has brought back to light a concerning interaction with law enforcement. After Shaw was charged with involuntary manslaughter for an unrelated incident in October 2023, a couple has revealed details of their terrifying experience during a December 2022 traffic stop with Channel 2 Action News.
The couple—names withheld for security reasons—described how their dog was critically ill and they were racing to an emergency animal hospital. Waving to recognize the police did not stop a heated exchange of words. Shaw is shown in the body cam and dash camera footage that Channel 2 obtained drawing his handgun right away after getting out of his car and giving the couple a firm order to get out.
Shaw’s report said he kept his handgun pointed downward in a “low ready” posture, but the driver characterized the event as horrifying. Rather, the driver maintains Shaw yelled commands and aimed the rifle straight at them. The driver was subsequently charged with DUI after this traffic stop, an allegation he vigorously disputes, saying he was not drunk.
October 2023 saw Shaw shoot and kill 20-year-old Emmanuel Millard after another traffic stop and pursuit, which turned the situation sour. A grand jury indictment of Shaw resulted from this episode. Among those who had already encountered Shaw—including the pair from the 2022 stop—the response was one of bleak inevitable. They told Channel 2 they thought Shaw’s actions could have disastrous results.
Shaw should get harsh punishment, according to Emmanuel Millard’s parents, who have been outspoken in their grief and demand for justice. Their feelings are in line with a larger community worry about the actions of the former officer and how it may affect police standards.
Significant public and media attention to this matter has prompted reactions from a number of officials. Citing the continuing legal procedure, the Woodstock Police Department has not made any comments on the situation. Similar emphasis was placed on the requirement of following due process and upholding impartiality and fairness in the impending trial by the Cobb County District Attorney’s office.
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This case emphasizes important problems about police behavior, the accountability procedures in law enforcement, and the pressing need for institutional changes to stop future deaths as the community waits for the trial. The forthcoming trial is about addressing more general issues concerning law enforcement procedures in addition to trying to get justice for Emmanuel Millard.