Georgia officials on Wednesday released body and dash-cam video showing how a traffic stop turned deadly between a sheriff’s deputy and Leonard Allan Cure, who was exonerated and released from prison about three years ago after spending 16 years behind bars for a crime he did not commit.
Cure, 53, who was Black, was shot and killed Monday by the Camden County, Ga., sheriff’s deputy after he was pulled over on Interstate 95 on suspicion of speeding. Cure had been returning home to suburban Atlanta from visiting his mother in southern Florida.
In the dash-cam video, the deputy, whom the sheriff’s office confirmed to The Times is Staff Sgt. Buck Aldridge, pulls over a pickup truck that can be seen driving down the interstate. According to the sheriff’s office, Cure was going at least 100 mph in an area where the speed limit was 70.
Aldridge repeatedly yells at Cure to step out of the vehicle, and orders him to put his hands on the back of the truck. Cure steps out and tells the deputy he was not doing anything. When Aldridge tries to grab his right arm, Cure yanks it away.
Aldridge takes out and points his Taser at Cure, again ordering him to the rear of the vehicle as Cure questions the deputy. Aldridge warns Cure that he will get tased if he doesn’t go to the back of the truck, and Cure follows the deputy’s orders. He puts one hand on the back of his truck, and then the other. After a few moments, Aldridge instructs Cure to put his hands behind his back. “Do I have a warrant?” Cure asks.
