After being choked by 53-year-old Leonard Cure, who was convicted of wrongful robbery and served more than 16 years in prison, Aldridge opened fire during a traffic stop on I-95 near the Florida border on October 16, 2023, garnering worldwide attention. Cure had been residing in metro Atlanta after his exoneration in 2020.
Aldridge stopped Cure’s pickup truck that day after he said it was being driven at above 100 miles per hour. At the time, Cure was in Florida visiting his mother.
Bodycam footage from the encounter shows that Aldridge repeatedly threatened to use his Taser and informed Cure that he was being arrested for speeding and careless driving. Eventually, Cure was observed raising his left hand in the air before the officer tased him. Aldridge attempted to put Cure in a headlock, but Cure grabbed him instead. The video showed that after a scuffle broke out, Cure choked the officer, who then shot him.
According to investigators, Cure passed away after receiving paramedic treatment.
Credit: Florida’s Innocence Project
Credit: Florida’s Innocence Project
According to The Associated Press, Keith Higgins, the district attorney for the Brunswick Judicial Circuit, eventually concluded that using lethal force was objectively reasonable because he was being overpowered at the time.
Attorney Ben Crump is representing Cure’s family, who have sued the county and the deputy, claiming that excessive force was used. Damages of at least $17 million are sought in the case.
The sheriff’s office reports that Aldridge, who was placed on administrative leave after the 2023 incident, was dismissed of his position on Thursday.
Sheriff Kevin Chaney stated in a statement that the Camden County Sheriff’s Office is dedicated to accountability and openness at all levels. Serving Camden County’s residents with honesty and professionalism is our responsibility.
Records from the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council show that Aldridge worked for the Kingsland Police Department for five years before joining the sheriff’s office in May 2018. According to documents, he was dismissed from the agency in August 2017 for violating the agency’s regulations regarding the use of appropriate and necessary force as well as conduct both on and off duty.
Aldridge was instructed to remain with the motorist while assisting other cops with a traffic stop during that event. However, POST said that while trying to handcuff and restrain the woman, he unexpectedly knocked the driver to the ground. Records reveal that Aldridge told detectives she tried to pull her arm back after stiffening it.
According to POST, one of the policemen who saw the video of the event claimed that he had witnessed a police officer acting excessively aggressively to begin with and that he had no right to pick her up and hurl her to the ground. Another said the deputy’s actions were a little excessive and that the driver was obeying.
The time and location of the incident were not specified in the documents. In 2014, Aldridge also received a written warning for violating the use-of-force regulation.
Credit: Standards and Training Council for Georgia Peace Officers
Credit: Standards and Training Council for Georgia Peace Officers
In the end, POST concluded its investigation into the Kingsland use-of-force incident and chose not to proceed. A month later, the sheriff’s office recruited Aldridge.
He faces 20 years in jail for each false report and up to 10 years in prison for each federal civil rights violation in the 13-count indictment. The FBI is looking into the situation, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office is bringing charges.
The power to enforce the law and not break it has been assigned to law enforcement officials. The FBI will take action if that trust is betrayed. In a statement, FBI Atlanta Special Agent Paul Brown stated that no badge elevates a person above the Constitution. We are still dedicated to looking into civil rights abuses and bringing those who misuse their position of authority to justice.
