ATLANTA — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Georgia, Northern), published as received.

ATLANTA – Former Fulton County Detention Officer Monique Clark has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of using excessive force against a pretrial detainee at the Fulton County Jail. 

“We recognize that detention officers have a particularly challenging job as they work to maintain order and protect detainees in our district’s jails and prisons,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “However, this detention officer allegedly abused a handcuffed Fulton County detainee by strangling her and must be held accountable for such outrageous conduct.”

“While those behind bars may have lost their freedom, they retain their humanity — and their civil rights,” said Special Agent in Charge Keri Farley of FBI Atlanta. “This case serves as an example that the FBI is committed to identifying and investigating those law enforcement officers who choose to abandon their oath and violate the public’s civil rights.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges, information presented in court and other public information: At the time of the alleged misconduct, Monique Clark was employed as a detention officer at Fulton County Jail. On June 5, 2023, while Clark was working at the North Jail Annex in Alpharetta, Clark allegedly strangled a pretrial detainee without any legal justification. The detainee lost consciousness and suffered bodily injury as a result of the assault.

Monique Clark, 32, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, has been indicted on charges of using excessive force against a pretrial detainee.  Members of the public are reminded that the indictment contains only charges.  The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by the Department of Justice’s Office of Inspector General.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bret R. Hobson and Brent Alan Gray and DOJ Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Alec C. Ward are prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.